- Title: Russia says ready to resume joint work with United States on Syria
- Date: 28th September 2016
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF'S MAIN OPERATIONS COMMAND DEPUTY HEAD, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL, VIKTOR POZNIKHIR, ENTERING JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF'S MAIN OPERATIONS COMMAND DEPUTY HEAD, VIKTOR POZNIKHIR, SAYING: "The situation in Syria has deteriorated significantly. In Aleppo and Hama provinces opposition groups, taking advantage of the seven-day truce, replenished ammunition and weapons reserves, regrouped and moved to active offensive operations to capture new territories." MAP OF SYRIA AND NEIGHBOURING STATES (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF'S MAIN OPERATIONS COMMAND DEPUTY HEAD, VIKTOR POZNIKHIR, SAYING: "We found out that terrorist groups are preparing provocative chemical attacks on Syrian army positions and residential quarters of eastern Aleppo so that they can later blame government forces for that." MAP OD ALEPPO (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF'S MAIN OPERATIONS COMMAND DEPUTY HEAD, VIKTOR POZNIKHIR, SAYING: "We got an additional data that terrorist units closely linked with Nusra Front were involved in the attack on the U.N. humanitarian aid convoy in Urm al-Kubra area." MAP OF SYRIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF'S MAIN OPERATIONS COMMAND DEPUTY HEAD, VIKTOR POZNIKHIR, SAYING: "Following the results of the telephone call between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the Russian Foreign Ministry and Russian Defence Ministry, on instructions from the President of the Russian Federation, are ready for further continuation of the joint work with our American partners on Syrian problem." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF'S MAIN OPERATIONS COMMAND DEPUTY HEAD, VIKTOR POZNIKHIR, SAYING: "We plan to send Russian experts to Geneva soon to resume talks with the U.S. side to find ways to normalize the situation in Aleppo and Syria in general. We count on our American partners to be ready to work together." RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY EMBLEM POZNIKHIR STANDING UP AND LEAVING VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY BUILDING
- Embargoed: 13th October 2016 20:42
- Keywords: Russia Syria U.S. Aleppo Middle East
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA00151HEBT3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Russia said on Wednesday (September 28) it was ready to work with the United States on Syria and would soon send experts to Geneva for talks with U.S. counterparts.
Lieutenant-General Viktor Poznikhir said the initiative was a result of a telephone call earlier on Wednesday between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
"The Russian Defence Ministry and the Foreign Ministry, on instructions from the President of the Russian Federation, are ready for further continuation of the joint work with our American partners on the Syrian problem," Poznikhir said.
The United States earlier threatened to halt its diplomacy with Russia on Syria and it said it held Russia accountable for the use of incendiary bombs on Aleppo.
"We count on our American partners to be ready to work together," Poznikhir said, adding that the situation in Syria has deteriorated significantly.
"Opposition groups, taking advantage of the seven-day truce, replenished ammunition and weapons reserves, regrouped and moved to active offensive operations to capture new territories."
Russia has also learned, Poznikhir said, that rebel groups were preparing chemical weapons attacks on the Syrian army and residential areas in the eastern part of Aleppo. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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