Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Related Articles
Moscow, SANA-The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed by phone with caretaker Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem the situation in Syria amid “a growing terrorist activity in Syria and Iraq.”
In a statement issued Monday, The ministry pointed to a sharp increase in terrorist crimes in Syria and Iraq where terrorists from the “Islamic State” organization (IS), formerly known as the “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria”, are on a rampage.
The ministers stressed that the stances of Syria and Russia are in agreement on the importance of showing zero tolerance in fighting terrorism “in all its forms”, emphasizing the necessity that it be conditioned on a strict observance of the international law, particularly honoring the sovereignty of the region’s countries.
“During the phone call, the two sides hoped that the UN Security Council Resolution 2170 would constitute an important and effective step in the collective struggle against terrorism,” said the statement.
On 15 August 2014, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2170 in response to the terrorist activities of the Islamic State (IS/ISIS/ISIL) and the Al Nusrah Fron (ANF) as well as other entities associated with Al-Qaida.
This resolution imposes on all states action against the export of terrorist fighter and the financing of terrorism.
Earlier on the day, al-Moallem said during a press conference that Syria is ready for cooperation and coordination in counter-terrorism efforts on the regional and international level.
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Minister said Russia supports Syria and Iraq in their efforts to quash IS terrorists, indicating his conviction that “each military effort cannot be granted without the consent of the country concerned.”
Lavrov, who was speaking during a press conference Monday in Moscow, said “We will be fully prepared to work together and coordinate efforts with the countries which came under direct terrorist threats, and here I particularly mean Iraq and Syria, which we will be helping to consolidate their capabilities against armed terrorism.”
Lavrov added that Russia is ready to cooperate with the countries which are on the same page in the war against terrorism. “We will stand firmly for all anti-terrorism operations to be conducted in agreement with the country concerned and in full respect to its sovereignty.”
“The US can direct strikes to terrorists, but after having the prior consent of the government of the country it wants to hit terrorism on its territories,” said Lavrov, underlining the necessity that Washington cooperates with the legitimate authorities in case it has plans to fight IS on the Syrian territories or elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Lavrov called for including Syria itself in the Friends of Syria group.
Established in 2012, the group comprises Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“I suggest that the Friends of Syria group should after all include Syria itself as the Syrian government is facing the threat of terrorism,” Lavrov said.
Meanwhile, Russian President’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed with Syria’s ambassador to Russia Dr. Riyad Haddad the situation in Syria.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the two sides “had a thorough discussion of the emerging situation in Syria after the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2170 which should be a significant step in the collective fighting of terrorism and extremism, whether in Syria or Iraq.”
According to the statement, the two sides exchanged views on a number of “pressing issues” concerning the Syrian-Russian cooperation.
The United Nations Security council had unanimously passed Resolution 2170 under which steps are to be taken to tackle the enormous risk for the region and the international community posed by the terrorist organizations Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the Al-Nusra Front – affiliated to Al Qaeda – that are currently active in Iraq and Syria.
M.Ismael
Manal Ismael
