Lavrov: Kurds’ participation in Intra-Syrian talks ‘absolutely necessary’

Russia supposes that it is absolutely necessary to invite Kurds to the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. 

Addressing the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Lavrov said it is now necessary to ensure "a stable and direct character of intra-Syrian dialogue, ensure giving it a truly representative character."

"In particular, we consider it absolutely necessary to invite the leadership of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party [PYD] to participate in the Geneva talks," Lavrov stressed.

While the Kurds are the largest ethnic minority in Syria, none of their representatives have been invited to the Geneva negotiations. The PYD claims that its participation in the intra-Syrian talks was blocked by Ankara because of its assumed links to the pro-independence Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is active in southeastern Turkey and is considered to be a terrorist organization by Ankara.

Meanwhile, he noted that activity of the Russian Aerospace Forces in cooperation with the Syrian government troops and later with representatives of the opposition, has forced terrorists to retreat.

Their activity "has created conditions for a ceasefire, for deliveries of humanitarian aid to affected regions and for establishing the process of political settlement," the minister said. "This has become possible also within the context of cooperation between Russia and the United States," the top diplomat marked.

The foreign minister also pointed out that Russia insists on participation of the Kurds in intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.

"We continue insisting that the Syrian Kurds be involved in the talks on the future of their country in full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254," he said.

Lavrov called for analyzing mistakes and not using terrorists as instruments.

"There are many hurdles on the path of fighting terrorism. In order to defeat terrorist aggression, it is necessary to thoroughly analyze mistakes and refuse actions and decisions that pushed the Middle East to the ramp of general degradation," he said.

"It is necessary to recognize the right of peoples to decide on their future by themselves, and not enforce values on them from the outside," the foreign minister added. 

"It is impermissible to use terrorists as instruments for reaching political goals," he concluded.

Source: MENA