Russia: U.S. must separate Syria rebel groups to allow for peace accord

Record ID: 83503

  • Title: Russia: U.S. must separate Syria rebel groups to allow for peace accord
  • Date: 29th September 2016
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, MARIA ZAKHAROVA, WALKING TO PODIUM AT BEGINNING OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, MARIA ZAKHAROVA, SAYING: "We underline once again the need for the separation of so called peaceful opposition and terrorists, we call firstly on the United States and all those in the region who have a relevant influence to produce such a separation. Only this and only in this way (peace accord can be fulfilled), it is stipulated in the decisions made by the International Syria Support Group and of course in the documents of the U.N. Security Council and in the agreements made between Washington and Moscow, the Russia-U.S. agreements on Syria." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, MARIA ZAKHAROVA, SAYING (RESPONDING TO COMMENTS BY U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JOHN KIRBY): "It is exactly Washington, with its allies in the region that insists that the lawfully elected president should step down. If Washington considers the vacuum that now exists insecure, then what will happen in Washington's opinion if the lawfully elected president and the lawful government of this country leave? There has to be some logic in their words." MEDIA ZAKHAROVA AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, MARIA ZAKHAROVA, SAYING (RESPONDING TO COMMENT ON TURKEY-RUSSIA COOPERATION ON SYRIA): "Constructive does not mean being in agreement, it does not mean giving up on our position and obeying someone else's will. Constructive means to find arguments, resolutions, finding compromise, understanding that we have our own interests and Turkey its own national interests. Constructive means listening to each other and aim for resolving questions." MEDIA VARIOUS OF ZAKHAROVA LEAVING AT END OF NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 14th October 2016 18:09
  • Keywords: Russia U.S. Syria Mideast crisis peace accord Turkey
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA00151MD45J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The failure by the United States to separate Syrian moderate opposition groups from terrorists is blocking the entire package of agreements reached by the International Syria Support Group, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday (September 29).
    "We underline once again the need for the separation of so called peaceful opposition and terrorists, we call firstly on the United States and all those in the region who have a relevant influence to produce such a separation," said Maria Zakharova.
    "Only this and only in this way (peace accord can be fulfilled), it is stipulated in the decisions made by the International Syria Support Group and of course in the documents of the U.N. Security Council and in the agreements made between Washington and Moscow, the Russia-U.S. agreements on Syria."
    The spokeswoman voiced outrage at a statement made by U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby who said on Wednesday (September 28) that Russia had an interest in stopping the violence in Syria because extremists could exploit the vacuum there and launch attacks "against Russian interests, perhaps even Russian cities."
    "It is exactly Washington, with its allies in the region that insists that the lawfully elected president should step down. If Washington considers the vacuum that now exists insecure, then what will happen in Washington's opinion if the lawfully elected president and the lawful government of this country leave? There has to be some logic in their words," said Zakharova.
    The United States is on the verge of suspending talks with Russia on trying to implement a ceasefire agreement to end the violence in Syria, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told an audience in Washington on Thursday, following the Russian-backed Syrian government's intense attacks on Aleppo.
    Zakharova on Thursday also said that there was a trend for cooperation with Turkey on Syria to be "constructive" now that Moscow and Ankara are mending their ties.
    "Constructive does not mean being in agreement, it does not mean giving up on our position and obeying someone else's will. Constructive means to find arguments, resolutions, finding compromise, understanding that we have our own interests and Turkey its own national interests. Constructive means listening to each other and aim for resolving questions," added Zakharova.
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