Russia to consider ‘interests of all parties’ in Syria

Monitoring Desk

MOSCOW: Moscow will consider interests of all parties and Syria’s neighbors, including Turkey, regarding the proposed 32-kilometer (20-mile) safe zone in northern Syria, Russian foreign minister said on Wednesday.

“We will fully seek to take into account the interests of all parties involved, all of Syria’s neighbors,” Sergey Lavrov told an annual news conference in Moscow in response to an Anadolu Agency correspondent.

“And, of course, the security interests of all countries in the region, including Turkey, will be part of the agreements that we will seek,” he added.

Forming a 32-kilometer (20-mile) wide safe zone in northern Syria will be on the upcoming Russian-Turkish presidential meeting’s agenda, Lavrov said.

“Of course this issue will be discussed including when President Erdogan will come for the next round of talks with President Putin,” he added. “But the ultimate goal, I repeat, is to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, which was signed by the United States, Turkey, Russia and all other UN members,” he said.

Lavrov also said the situation in the Syrian province of Idlib will be the main topic of the Turkish and Russian presidents’ meeting which will be held “in the nearest future.” “We are extremely interested in implementation of the agreements, signed by Russia and Turkey on Idlib,” he said.

Commenting on situation on the Euphrates, Lavrov said the U.S. created “dozens of serious military objects, including military bases”.

Lavrov denied the possibility of a Kurdish state in the Middle East, saying Russia believes in “preserving and respecting the territorial integrity” of the countries where Kurds live. (AA)