LOC20:48
17:48 GMT
MOSCOW, Feb 23 (KUNA) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey lavrov said Friday Syrian negotiations that took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, aborted US plans to divide Syria.
The negotiation process between the Syrian government and opposition in Astana are aborting Washington's plans to divide Syria at a time the US is working on establishing a small state east of Ephurates, Lavrov told a news conference conference with his Uzbek counterpart Abdulaziz Kamilov.
"The Americans are busy planning to establish small countries in Syria, that is why they controlled vast areas east of Ephurates," he said.
Lavrov said the armed groups in Eastern Ghouta caused huge pains for the civilians because they refused to allow them leave the area.
He said the Shaam Liberation authority, formerly known as Al-Nusra Front, was behind the problem in Eastern Ghouta. Lavrov said the US was using Al-Nusra Front as a tool in Syria.
On current deliberations among UN Security Council members over a draft resolution - co-sponsored by Kuwait and Sweden - to announce a 30-day humanitarian truce, Lavrov said Russia was ready to approve the text if parties inside Eastern Ghouta were committed to the truce.
He said the outside parties with influence on armed groups inside Eastern Ghouta should offer this commitment.
An agreement over the draft UN resolution is possible, said Lavrov, if Washington and its allies were really interested with the humanitarian situation in Eastern Ghouta, not by creating pretexts to topple the regime in Damascus.
He said Russia, Iran and Turkey would continue working within the framework of the negotiations process in line with UN resolution 2254, which stipulated respect of sovereignty, territorial safety and independence of Syria. (end)
as.bs