Patience with Russia running out, US and EU say

WASHINGTON, Sept 25 (KUNA) -- The United States of America and the European Union slammed Russia and its lack of influence on the Syrian regime, warning in a statement that "patience" is not unlimited." US Secretary of State John Kerry met with his British, French, German, Italian, and EU counterparts in his home state of Massachusetts before releasing a joint statement, late on Saturday, calling on Moscow to "restore a cessation of hostilities (CoH), allow unfettered humanitarian assistance and create the conditions necessary for the resumption of UN-led talks about a political transition" in Syria.
"The burden is on Russia to prove it is willing and able to take extraordinary steps to salvage diplomatic efforts," the statement said.
The Quint nations - as the five countries are known - along with the EU stressed that Russia's actions "contradict [its] claim that it supports a diplomatic solution" in Syria.
Among those actions is the "outrageous bombing of a humanitarian convoy, the Syrian regime's public denunciation of the CoH, continuing reports that the regime is using chemical weapons, and the unacceptable ongoing regime offensive on eastern Aleppo," the statement said.
Moscow must "take extraordinary steps to restore the credibility of our efforts, including by halting the indiscriminate bombing by the Syrian regime of its own people, which has continually and egregiously undermined efforts to end this war." "Patience with Russia's continued inability or unwillingness to adhere to its commitments is not unlimited," the statement warned.
The Quint nations and EU further demanded "immediate, expanded humanitarian access to all areas of Syria, including those on the United Nations' priority list, and we deplore the delays and obstruction caused primarily by the Syrian regime of humanitarian deliveries to Syrians in desperate need." They also gave their "full support" to the UN investigation of the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to fighting terrorism, and particularly noted its fight against the so-called Islamic State (IS) and the Al-Nusra Front (ANF), which "rejects a negotiated political transition and inclusive democratic future for Syria, and we call on all armed groups fighting in Syria to cease any collaboration with Nusra." (end) ys.rk