Russia said all participants in talks in Lausanne had
agreed Syrians should decide their own future through inclusive dialogue and
that the country should remain whole and secular, after the meeting ended
without a breakthrough.
(From L-R), Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim...REUTERS/Jean-Christophe Bott/Pool
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that in order
for a U.S.-Russian ceasefire agreement to succeed and to facilitate
humanitarian aid deliveries, Syria's moderate opposition must separate from
Jabhat Fatah al Sham, previously known as the Nusra Front, and other
"terrorist groups" affiliated with it.
"At the same time, it should be understood that
operations against terrorists of Islamic State and the Nusra Front will be
continued," the ministry said.
Saturday's talks, convened by U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry in the Swiss city, failed to agree on a common strategy with Russia
to end the conflict in Syria, now in its sixth year.
Kerry hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
and seven foreign ministers from the region - from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia,
Turkey, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt - weeks after the collapse of a painstakingly
crafted U.S.-Russian ceasefire plan that many saw as the last hope for peace
this year.
Western powers have accused Russia and Syria of
committing atrocities by bombing hospitals, killing civilians and preventing
medical evacuations in Syria's largest city Aleppo, as well as targeting an aid
convoy with the loss of around 20 lives. Syria and Russia say they are only
targeting militants.
Europe was not represented at the Lausanne meeting.
But France's Foreign Ministry confirmed that Kerry and foreign ministers of
like-minded nations planned to meet in London on Sunday to discuss Syria.
(Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov)
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