Lavrov: UN, ISSG Decisions on Syria Should Be Implemented

Wednesday 13 July 2016

Lavrov: UN, ISSG Decisions on Syria Should Be Implemented

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that decisions made by the UN Security Council and ISSG (International Syria Support Group) on Syria should be fulfilled.

During a press conference in Azerbaijan, Lavrov said he believes differences between Moscow and Ankara on the Syrian conflict could ease thanks to a thaw in relations following a letter and phone call by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and high level talks among both countries’ top diplomats at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Sochi. Russian FM Sergei Lavrov

“All this will have a positive effect on the general situation in the region (Syria)”, Lavrov said on Tuesday, TASS reported.

Moreover, Russia’s top diplomat hoped both parties could find common ground on ways to overcome the Syrian crisis, even though Moscow and Ankara do not see eye to eye on a solution.

“However, following a frank discussion with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Sochi I believe that differences with our Turkish partners should ease up, and we will try to negotiate more openly on implementing the UN Security Council’s resolution and ISSG (International Syria Support Group) decision,” he added. “It lists principles, which everyone signed and it is necessary to fulfill them,” the foreign minister noted.

In a question-and-answer session, Lavrov touched upon how normalization of ties between Moscow and Ankara would influence relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. Lavrov noted that they “do not depend on some situation, moreover the Azerbaijani leadership has consistently maintained the same approach.”

“Current developments have never influenced the strategic relations that exist between Moscow and Baku. Of course, the fewer the problems there are in the region, the better it is for Russia and Azerbaijan,” he concluded.