Russia worried about degenerating Syria peace talks
Russia is worried that the ongoing round of peace talks on Syria is declining in significance despite efforts by Moscow to see tensions ease in the war-ravaged country.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with journalists on Monday that the talks between the Syrian government and some opposition groups in Geneva are not yielding the desired results.
“We still state with serious concern that the situation is degenerating at these negotiations,” said Peskov, adding, "Russia has been consistently doing whatever it can to help develop and support this negotiating process, and not allow this process to be disrupted.”
The talks started in April 13 after an agreement between the United States and Russia for the cessation of hostilities on the ground came into effect in late February. The truce excludes Nusra Front and Daesh, two Takfiri terrorist groups operating mainly in northern and eastern Syria.
Russia has been critical of the way the opposition is engaged to the talks, saying some groups have yet to fulfill their obligations for ending cooperation with the terrorists in Syria.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Damascus and Moscow have repeatedly asked the opposition and governments that back them to withdraw their militants from areas under control of terrorists in Syria, although he said that demand has fallen on deaf ears.
“We agreed long ago that groups that found themselves on the positions of terrorists but that are not terrorists and want to participate in the political process, should leave the territories of terrorist positions," Lavrov said, adding, “They should disassociate and physically leave these positions.”
“We agreed with the Americans that they would use their influence on these 'good opposition members' and will take them out of there so that no one prevents to destroy the terrorist group Jabhat al-Nusra,” he said, referring to the Arabic title of al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group.
Sources in Geneva said Friday that the talks will continue until at least the end of April although a major Saudi-backed opposition group walked out of negotiations.
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