In Russia there is no “exit strategy” from Syria – Lavrov

Lavrov said that Russia would welcome “any U.S. contribution” to the operation of the security zones in Syria.

Russia has no “exit strategy” from Syria, said Russian foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“We have no “exit strategy” (exit strategy – if), we have to fulfill what you agreed to. It is written in the Security Council resolution, it is necessary to implement it,” he said Wednesday at a press conference in Washington, answering a journalist’s question about what Russia has “an exit strategy from Syria.”

According to the Minister, “it is necessary to stop terrorism in Syria, not to let it become a hotbed of extremism, instability, to prevent what happened with Iraq and Libya”.

“And in the case of Iraq, and in the case of Libya the international progressive community was obsessed with the need to overthrow one person… what it led To, well we all see it,” – said the head of the Russian foreign Ministry. Therefore, he said, “when it comes to settling the Syrian crisis, let’s be still, to learn from past mistakes.”

“President trump today, once again confirmed that in Syria, the US, the main thing is to defeat terror. Here we fully agree,” – said Lavrov.

He added that Russia and the United States there is a consensus in the conceptual plan on creation of zones of de-escalation in Syria, with Moscow hopes that Washington will play an active role in ensuring security in these areas. “Now at this stage there is agreement at the conceptual level and even to a certain degree, in practical terms, in terms of geographical dimensions of these zones of de-escalation” – Lavrov said at the talks in Washington.

“We have confirmed today that interested in the fact that the United States played an active role in these issues. It seems to me that the Americans are also interested in this. At least, talking about the South area of de-escalation, they have an obvious interest. We believe that they will play a proactive role in the creation of these areas in this process”, – said the Minister.

“I hope that other territories in question, the United States will also be able to make a direct contribution to security and ensuring the monitoring of compliance with cessation of hostilities and contribution to the resolution of humanitarian problems, as it is also one of the functions of areas of de-escalation”, – he added.

Lavrov reminded that “the Memorandum, which was signed in Astana, presents further steps, which will be to the major players agreed who and how will provide security around these areas of de-escalation”.

© 2017, paradox. All rights reserved.