Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
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Moscow, SANA -Ilyas Umakhanov, Vice-Chairman of the Russian Federation Council, said unified efforts for fighting terrorism, including that of ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra, are needed in order for the political process in Syria to run orderly and effectively.
He was speaking during a meeting on Tuesday a delegation of the follow-up committee of the Syrian National Dialogue visiting Moscow.
He blamed the crisis in Syria on the illegal policies of some foreign countries, mainly those supporting terrorism, stressing the need to preserve the state institutions in Syria, first and foremost the Syrian Arab army.
Umakhanov affirmed that Russia is committed to continue military-technical cooperation with Syria and implement the commitments related to boosting Syria’s defense capabilities, in addition to continuing humanitarian cooperation.
Moscow, he said, is interested in bringing together all the spectra of the political forces that seek finding a common language to achieve peace and stability in Syria and in having the voices of all the constructive opposition forces heard clearly.
Umakhanov considered the mutual visits between Russia and Syria, including the delegation’s visit, as quite important in terms of helping in clearing up “vague points” and bringing the reality taking place on the Syrian ground into brighter light.
He reiterated what he said earlier at a meeting with the delegation’s head Ali Haidar that the opposition, particularly the internal opposition, must be widely represented in all meetings related to settling the crisis in Syria.
“This is not a favor by a concession that the West should make because without broad representation of the political forces, reaching a political solution would be so difficult,” said Umakhanov.
He indicated the difficulty to have agreement or a specific unified structure of the state while some international players continue attempts to tear Syria apart.
Therefore, he added, there needs to be concerted efforts and a broad coalition formed for fighting terrorism where Syria should be at its center through its army and the support of all influential forces that truly believe in preserving Syria’s sovereignty and unity.
Ali Haider, who is Minister of State for National Reconciliation Affairs and Leader of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, expressed thanks to Russia for its keenness on a political solution to the crisis and support for the Syrian people and preserving the Syrian state.
He noted that the Follow-up Committee of the Syrian National Dialogue includes the majority of the Syrian parties of various spectra, and it is therefore “the first true expression of a serious desire to work for solving the crisis.”
“We, on this visit, are at a mature objective regional and international point to take a step towards safety and the political process that is supposed to be a prelude for a solution,” said Haidar.
This point, he added, is the result of shifts over the latest period, where the Russian policy has proved the most firm, accurate and objective in dealing with the Syrian file, and “dangerous shifts” inside Syria regarding the growing scale of terrorism and loosening grip of some countries over some of the terrorist agents that have started to work upon their own interests.
Haidar explained that the political forces are not influential on the ground and cannot influence the battlefield against terrorism, “that is why the political process today is not to change the structure of the Syrian state as it used to be said, but to mobilize all the forces to move towards the first mission, an international mission now which Syria is
undertaking, that is of fighting terrorism.”
He noted that the conditions are still not ripe for Geneva 3 and that “the need is urgent for Moscow 3 before any other place.”
Haifa Said
