- Title: Russia's Lavrov says talks with U.S. on Syria at dead end
- Date: 12th December 2016
- Summary: BELGRADE, SERBIA (DECEMBER 12, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FLAGS FLYING OUTSIDE SERBIAN PRESIDENCY BUILDING SERBIAN FLAG FLYING RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV (LEFT) AND SERBIAN PRESIDENT TOMISLAV NIKOLIC COMING TO FLOOR CAMERAMAN FILMING GUARD HANDING TO NIKOLIC ORDER OF THE SERBIAN FLAG FIRST CLASS / NIKOLIC PRESENTING ORDER TO LAVROV / NIKOLIC AND LAVROV SHAKING HANDS, KISSING EACH OTHER IVICA DACIC, SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AND LAVROV COMING TO NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMAN FILMING DACIC TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "The problem is simple. We say, keeping in mind our previous experience, when the militants used any break to regroup and receive reinforcements from abroad and terrorise the peaceful population even more fiercely, let us initially agree on which corridors will be created. We can agree on that with the Americans very quickly." PHOTOGRAPHER EDITING PICTURE ON LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "That's our position. Our American colleagues do, so to speak, agree with that, and on December 2 when we had a meeting with John Kerry in Rome they supported that very concept and even gave us their thoughts on paper. But after four days they revoked that agreement and returned to their old and, as I see it, dead-end position which stipulates that before agreeing on any corridors a pause should be announced for the duration of three, four or seven days. But as you understand, we have already been through this. This would mean that the militants would yet again be given a break." CAMERAMAN FILMING LAVROV AND DACIC SHAKING HANDS
- Embargoed: 27th December 2016 20:11
- Keywords: Syria Lavrov Aleppo Serbia U.S.
- Location: BELGRADE, SERBIA
- City: BELGRADE, SERBIA
- Country: Syria
- Reuters ID: LVA0015CKYQ13
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday (December 12) that negotiations with the United States on Syria were at a dead end but was open to talks on the withdrawal of rebels.
During a visit to Belgrade, Lavrov said Russia was ready to quickly negotiate with the United States the opening of corridors for the pullout of rebels from Aleppo, but said these would have to be agreed before any ceasefire happened.
"The problem is simple. We say, keeping in mind our previous experience, when the militants used any break to regroup and receive reinforcements from abroad and terrorise the peaceful population even more fiercely, let us initially agree on which corridors will be created. We can agree on that with the Americans very quickly," Lavrov told reporters at a news conference with his Serbian counterpart.
"That's our position. Our American colleagues do, so to speak, agree with that, and on December 2 when we had a meeting with John Kerry in Rome they supported that very concept and even gave us their thoughts on paper. But after four days they revoked that agreement and returned to their old and, as I see it, dead-end position which stipulates that before agreeing on any corridors a pause should be announced for the duration of three, four or seven days. But as you understand, we have already been through this. This would mean that the militants would yet again be given a break," he added.
Lavrov also said he believed that Islamic State's seizure of Palmyra might have been engineered by the U.S.-led coalition to divert attention from Aleppo and give respite to rebels there.
Earlier in the day, a military source said the Syrian army was on the verge of announcing victory in its battle to retake rebel-held eastern Aleppo.
The Syrian army made new advances on Monday after taking the Sheikh Saeed district, leaving rebels trapped in a tiny part of the city. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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