Bashar Jafari after Meeting De Mistura:

UK, France Funding Terrorism in Syria

Rasa - The head of the Syrian government delegation to the Geneva intra-Syrian talks said France and the United Kingdom are among the countries sponsoring terrorism in Syria.

News ID: 428421

Date: 25 March 2017 - 22:08

RNA - “Both France and the United Kingdom are among the Western countries sponsoring terrorism and using it as political weapon,” Bashar Jafari told reporters following the meeting with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura, Al Manar reported.

He added that the government welcomed those who was willing to fight ISIL.

“Fighting terrorism requires concerted efforts by all. The direct US military intervention in Syria does not help to fight ISIL….  The only way is to coordinate with the Syrian Arab Army,” Jafari concluded.

Damascus values highly Russia’s efforts in Syrian reconciliation, in particular in Astana, according to Jaafari.

“We assessed the tracks of Astana and Geneva. We commended to UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura] positive and constructive Russian initiatives on stabilization of ceasefire and finding political solution, through continued cooperation between Assad and Putin,” Jafari said.

The fifth round of talks on Syrian crisis settlement kicked off on Thursday and is expected to conclude on March 31, according to sources close to the meetings.

Jaafari stressed that any US- or Turkish-backed military offensive against the militant-held northern city of Raqqah must be coordinated with the Syrian government otherwise it would be illegitimate.

“All the terrorist attacks, as I said, are pushing everybody towards a total failure and fiasco in the political and diplomatic process,” he pointed out.

Jaafari questioned the airstrikes of the US-led coalition purportedly fighting ISIL terror group, saying only Syrian troops are fighting terrorists with the help of Russia and Iran.

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