Russia sees a readiness to establish peace in the Idlib de-escalation zone, but a lot will depend on the actions of the moderate opposition. This was stated on Wednesday by the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev at a press conference following the 15th international meeting on Syria in the Astana format.
"We see a readiness to establish peace in the Idlib de-escalation zone. However, of course, a lot will depend on the moderate opposition, " he said.
Lavrentyev stressed that the moderate Syrian opposition "represents a fairly large force." "It has the ability to ensure its stable presence in this Idlib de-escalation zone and to ensure, if not the destruction, then at least the squeezing out of the representatives of the radical groups that have formed there, outside the security zone. This would greatly help to stabilize the situation, " he said.
Idlib is the only region of Syria, most of which is controlled by the armed formations of the Syrian opposition and the terrorist group "Jabhat al-Nusra" (banned in the Russian Federation). In 2017, the northern de-escalation zone was created there, where militants with families who refused to voluntarily lay down their weapons moved from other regions of the country.
The mood to find a compromise
Lavrentyev said that during the meeting with the Syrian opposition, Russia noted its intention to reach compromise solutions to the issue of a peaceful settlement of the crisis.
"Today we had a concert <...> a thorough and quite interested conversation with the [Syrian] opposition. And we felt the mood, such a focus on achieving some compromise options for a peaceful solution to the crisis, " he said.
Lavrentyev stressed that Russia is ready to work together to resolve the situation in Idlib. "We are ready to receive them [the Syrian opposition] in Moscow, we are ready to work on any other platforms," he said. - "The most important thing is that they move away from such radical approaches to resolving the crisis, which include changing the existing government in Syria. If we are guided by this, then, of course, it will be quite difficult to talk about progress on the part of the legitimate government."
On the work of the Constitutional Committee
The Special Representative of the Russian President believes that progress is being made in the work of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva. Recalling that two years have passed since the committee's work began, he noted that "despite everything, we managed to make progress". "The parties have started talking to each other, even if not directly, indirectly, but during the consultations, really interesting ideas and proposals are put forward, which will be summarized in the future for making some decisions," the senior diplomat said.
According to him, Moscow expects that the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Syria, Geir Pedersen, will be able to persuade the parties to greater flexibility in the negotiations.
Interaction with the United States
According to Lavrentyev, Russia expects that when Joe Biden comes to power in the United States, the policy of maximum pressure on Syria will be adjusted in favor of easing.
"We hope that common sense will prevail, that the policy of maximum pressure, which was followed by the American leadership during almost all the 4 years of Donald Trump's stay in power, under Joe Biden will be adjusted in the direction of easing restrictive measures," he said.
Lavrentyev stressed that this is necessary to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, pointing out that for a year and a half, before the introduction of tough sanctions, the country's population as a whole was provided with food, medicine and energy. "With the adoption of the notorious" Caesar's act" on the introduction of sanctions against the regime, the socio-economic situation [in Syria] began to deteriorate sharply. It is still not the fault of the current government, which did everything to maintain a normal level of provision with food and fuel, and these are all the results of external pressure, " he continued.
"If this policy changes, I think that we will be able to count on the most productive approach of Damascus to resolve all issues, including in cooperation. Once again, we believe that we need to talk to Damascus, that we need to establish a dialogue with Damascus, and not isolate it politically and economically, " concluded the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation.
Lavrentyev also said that Russia is open to cooperation with the United States in the framework of the Astana format on Syria, if such a desire is shown by Washington.
"We are open to dialogue with our American partners. At the moment, Washington's position on the Syrian dossier has not yet been finalized, and time is needed. We hope for an interested and constructive conversation in the future if there is a willingness on their part, " he said, answering the relevant question.
Lavrentyev stressed that Russia considers the US presence in Syria as illegal. "What they are doing with the use of American companies controlled by Washington to plunder natural resources, I mean first of all oil, is, of course, unacceptable, because the Syrian people suffer from this, who are deprived of the right to use the proceeds from oil production in their own interests, in the interests of the Syrian people," he added.
Possibility of provocations with the use of chemical substances
Lavrentyev said that Russia has information about the preparation of new provocations with the use of chemical substances in Syria. "Currently, information is being received about the preparation of new provocations with the use of chemical substances on the territory of Syria," he said.
Russia records the appearance of representatives of the White Helmets organization in the Syrian province of Idlib, "who, according to available information, are now preparing staging of the alleged use of chemical weapons by the central government against the civilian population," Lavrentyev stressed.
The diplomat noted that the provocateurs are counting on the" punitive actions " of the West against Damascus.
"We issue a warning to all those who are behind these provocations [with chemical weapons], for the preparation of these barbaric attacks. Staging will not help here, all the persons involved will then be identified and subjected to trial, responsibility and punishment, " Lavrentyev continued. "But the fact is that such attempts are also monstrous because they can plunge the country into another round of confrontation if the West takes some punitive actions against Damascus."
On the elections in Syria
The Special Representative of the President also said that Russia does not accept Western objections about the illegality of holding presidential elections in Syria until a new constitution is drawn up.
"The Syrian legislation provides for the holding of presidential elections within the established time frame, sometime in the summer of this year. We consider it absolutely legitimate, and we do not accept the claims of the West that this should not be done in any case, that it will be illegal," the diplomat stressed. "Illegal from what point of view? They can't justify it, " he said.
"Therefore, we believe that the political process of constitutional reform should go in parallel with the functioning of state structures. We, without interfering in internal affairs, believe that the holding of presidential elections is appropriate, " he emphasized, adding that Russia will monitor the result of the elections if they take place.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Evgeny Biyatov / POOL / TASS
Based on materials from TASS