Lavrov calls to coordinate Russian, US military action in Syria

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stressed a need for coordinated action by Russian and US military to deal a final blow to terrorists in Syria.

"We have the so-called deconflicting, but this is probably not enough when fight against terrorism is in progress, when we destroy terrorist hotbeds in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor," he said. "In order to deal a final blow to terrorists in fact, not just deconflicting is need, coordination is necessary. However, American military are forbidden from coordination," he added.

Lavrov said Russia has informed the United States that any attempts to hamper the counterterrorism operation in Syria will not be left without reaction.

"We are delighted to meet, to make sure we are on the same page about the Syrian settlement, fight against terrorism, resumption of nationwide dialogue and to outline further steps with regard to all these issues," Lavrov said.

"I am convinced that successes of the Syrian army supported by Russia’s Aerospace Force, in particularly in Deir ez-Zor and other regions, are very impressive," he said. "It is a decisive contribution to the fight against ISIL (former name of the Islamic State terrorist group banned in Russia)."

"We will be ready to heed your assessments on the issue and the situation in the country on the whole," Lavrov said.

"We have regular talks with the Americans, the Department of State and Pentagon. We have explained what is going on, as the Russian Defense Ministry had earlier announced publicly," he emphasized.

"We have sent a clear message that if there are attempts to complicate the end of the counterterrorism operation from the areas that are close to American ‘friends,’ or what else they can be called, it will not be left without reaction," Lavrov concluded.

• Foreign troops

Moscow thinks it necessary the foreign troops staying illegitimately in Syria should pull out of the country after the victory over terrorism.

"About the foreign presence. There is legitimate presence based on an invitation from official authorities, but there is illegitimate one, namely presence of the US-led coalition and special forces’ troops from a wide range of foreign countries who nobody has invited," Lavrov said. "After terrorism is defeated, the first step should be the pullout of those who stay illegitimately in Syria."

"As for those, who were invited on a legitimate basis, leaders of the Syrian state will take a decision upon results of the political process," he noted.
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