Putin expressed readiness to return to the Memorandum on the prevention of incidents in Syria
The Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also announced agreements with the United States to help the multilateral process on Syria.
Moscow. April 12. INTERFAX.RU — Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia is ready to return to the application of the Memorandum with the USA on the prevention of incidents in Syria, said Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after meeting with U.S. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson in Moscow.
“As you know, this Memorandum (on the prevention of incidents in Syria and ensuring the safety of aviation — if) was suspended by the Russian side. Today, the President reiterated our readiness to resume its use on the understanding that it will be clearly confirmed the original goal of action air force American coalition and VKS RF, namely the fight against ISIS and “Dzhabhat EN-Nusra” (a terrorist organization banned in Russia)”, — he said.
Russia and the United States agreed to continue to promote the multilateral negotiating efforts in the Syrian settlement, Lavrov said.
“Today, we agreed to continue bilateral interactions to help and push the multilateral process. We appreciate that in addition to the Geneva process where we are fully involved together with American colleagues, also a Playground of Astana, where U.S. partners are present as observers,” Lavrov said at a press conference.
Russia and the United States reaffirmed a focus on an uncompromising struggle against international terrorism.
“We reaffirmed our shared commitment to an uncompromising struggle against international terrorism. This is a topic which presidents (Russia and USA) discussed during their several telephone conversations, including telephone conversation on the night of 4 April, when Donald trump called Vladimir Putin to Express condolences in connection with the attack in the St. Petersburg metro”, — said S. Lavrov at a press conference after talks with U.S. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson.
According to the Russian Minister, “we in the context of counter-terrorism discussed the situation in Syria, affected, of course, and the incident, which occurred after April 4 in Syria near Idlib had the use of chemicals and the ensuing missile attack on the United States military airfield (in Syria), 7 April”.
“We see attempts to prevent our cooperation, we see the attempts even to aggravate the confrontation, we believe that this short-sighted approach, especially as history has proven: when Moscow and Washington cooperate, benefit not only our peoples, but also the whole world”, — said Lavrov.
“We have documented that the present stage in our relations and in the international situation, not the calm, there are numerous problems, including those which were left as the bombs the previous U.S. administration — the administration of (Barack) Obama,” said Lavrov.
The Minister added: “We are realists, we understand that overcoming such barriers requires a major effort. But what we on these efforts focused on the understanding that it will be a counter-movement by our American colleagues, is a fact. Today once again, President Putin confirmed that our serial line”.