Moscow urges Syrian opposition to avoid raising tensions

At a meeting with members of the Syrian opposition’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC), Russia pointed out that attempts to raise tensions in Syria were counterproductive, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said following his meeting with the HNC delegation.


While commenting on the situation on the outskirts of Damascus and in the Hama Governorate, where severe fighting is going on, he said that "we have discussed it with the delegation of the High Negotiations Committee." "We told them that attempts to raise tensions are counterproductive no matter who is behind them," the Russian diplomat added.

"We told them that Jabhat al-Nusra and IS [terror groups outlawed in Russia] are legitimate targets as the ceasefire agreements do not apply to them," Gatilov added.

He reiterated the need to separate the opposition groups ready to abide by the ceasefire from terrorists.

Head of the Syrian government delegation Bashar Jaafari said earlier that in Damascus and the Hama Governorate, the opposition units that had previously joined the ceasefire, were cooperating with terrorists.

However, the HNC claims that the opposition units in these areas are fighting to defend themselves from the government forces.
[tass.com]
29/3/17