- Title: "There is no military solution to Syrian conflict" - Lavrov
- Date: 2nd December 2016
- Summary: ROME, ITALY (DECEMBER 2, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PAOLO GENTILONI AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "There is no military solution to Syrian conflict. We supported this position within the framework of the International Syria Support Group. Unfortunately, not all of its members were ready to support this common position that there is no military solution. But I am sure it is absolutely clear anyway, even without formal acceptance of this point of view." REPORTER ASKING QUESTION, LAVROV AND GENTILONI LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "If the announcement about the creation of Aleppo army comes now - then I do not exclude that it is another attempt to re-brand the Nusra Front and to use a new name in an attempt to help it avoid the deserved retribution." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "(STARTS OVER SHOT OF GENTILONI) I just want to add a couple of words. Paolo mentioned Stefan De Mistura initiative, who proposed to give all the terrorists a chance to withdraw from east Aleppo. We, despite all ambiguity of this idea, supported it and were ready to coordinate. This proposal was blocked by those who - and we are convinced of it - want Aleppo to remain under terrorists' control." MEDIA / LAVROV AND GENTILONI LAVROV AND GENTILONI LEAVING
- Embargoed: 17th December 2016 15:19
- Keywords: Italy Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Europe Migrants Middle East
- Location: ROME, ITALY
- City: ROME, ITALY
- Country: Italy
- Reuters ID: LVA0015B6YBEV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday (December 2) said there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria.
"We supported this position within the framework of the International Syria Support Group. Unfortunately, not all of its members were ready to support this common position that there is no military solution. But I am sure it is absolutely clear anyway, even without formal acceptance of this point of view," Lavrov said speaking at a news conference in Rome.
Lavrov also acknowledged contacts with the Syrian opposition. The talks have been going for about two weeks and are the first between Russia and rebel groups who say they have been abandoned by the West.
Moscow's warplanes have played a critical role in helping to turn around President Bashar al-Assad's fortunes from summer 2015, supporting the offensive against Aleppo by the Syrian army and its allies - Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Shi'ite militias from Lebanon and Iraq.
Some rebel groups are supported by the United States, Turkey and Gulf monarchies, but Syria's insurgents also include jihadist militants such as the former al Qaeda affiliate Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, previously known as the Nusra Front.
"If the announcement about the creation of Aleppo army comes now - then I do not exclude that it is another attempt to re-brand the Nusra Front and to use a new name in an attempt to help it avoid the deserved retribution," Lavrov said.
The front lines around the rebel-held sector of Aleppo have mostly held steady since Monday (November 28), when insurgents were forced from more than a third of the area they have controlled for several years in an assault by the Syrian army and its allies. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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