Russian air group's operation turned tide in Syria

The operation of Russia’s air group in Syria has contributed a great deal to turning the tide of events in Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a 2015 review news conference in Moscow on Tuesday, according to TASS news agency.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s initiative for forming a wide anti-terrorist coalition under the aegis of the United Nations was one of the key developments of 2015, Lavrov said.

"The operation of Russia’s air group in response to a request from the Syrian leadership really made it possible to turn the tide of events in the country and to cause the terrorists-controlled area to shrink," Lavrov said.

According to Lavrov, the UN Secretariat should provide honest and detailed reports on the implementation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions on curbing terrorist financing.

"Our active participation in the anti-terror struggle has contributed to the passing of a number of important resolutions of the UN Security Council aimed at curbing terrorist financing and the phenomenon of foreign terrorist gunmen," Lavrov said.

The foreign minister also dwelled on the role of Syrian Kurds in the settlement of the Syrian conflict. The minister noted that the decision on the Kurds participation in the inter-Syrian talks should be taken by United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura and Russia will not veto it.

"It will be the most serious mistake not to invite Kurds (for inter-Syrian talks), but we will not impose any veto," Lavrov said. "This is the right of Staffan de Mistura," he said.

The UN Syria envoy should be aware of his responsibility and should not shelter himself behind Russia and the United States, Lavrov added.

Source: MENA