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Russia: Choking guns in Syria difficult

Friday, 12 February 2016 2:39 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 12 February 2016 2:50 AM ]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov takes part in a press conference with his American counterpart, John Kerry, and the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (not shown) on the sidelines of a gathering of the 17-member International Syria Support Group in the German city of Munich early on Friday, February 12, 2016.

Despite an overall agreement among major concerned parties on the implementation of a ceasefire in Syria, Russia has warned about the complexities lying ahead of the task.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the remarks in the German city of Munich early on Friday after a gathering of the 17-member International Syria Support Group, Reuters reported.

The working group agreed during the session on the implementation of the ceasefire within a week.

Taking part in a press conference with his American counterpart, John Kerry, and the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, Lavrov said the truce can start within the timeframe, but all stakeholders should use their influence on the conflicting sides.

The conflict, fueled by foreign-backed militancy, has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives ever since its onset in 2011.

Syrian Red Crescent volunteers carry an injured child in the southern town of Douma on January 24, 2016. ©AFP

Three rounds of United Nations-backed negotiations have so far been held in Vienna and New York on the situation in Syria since last October. The latest round of peace talks unraveled in Geneva on February 3 less than a week after they started as a Saudi-backed opposition group refused to attend a meeting with De Mistura.

The Russian diplomat also asserted that peace talks should resume in Geneva as soon as possible, and that all opposition groups should participate.

He further dismissed the eagerly-pursued goal by the West of toppling the Syrian government, saying a positive impact of such regime change is an "illusion."

Lavrov stated that the country will keep up its airstrikes against the Daesh Takfiri group, al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, and other terrorist groups operating in Syria. Russia has been conducting the airstrikes at Damascus’ request since last September.

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