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Need unity to fight terror in Syria- Russia
February 14, 2014, 4:07 am

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during a ceremony of the unveiling of a plaque on a wall of the Foreign Ministry headquarters, dedicated to diplomats who volunteered to go to the front line during the WWII, in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 10, 2014 [AP]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in front of a plaque on a wall of the Foreign Ministry headquarters, dedicated to diplomats who volunteered to go to the front line during the WWII, in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 10, 2014 [AP]

While the UN deliberates over the two separate draft resolutions on the Syrian crisis, Moscow on Thursday said its draft is aimed at countering terrorism in the besieged West Asian nation.

“We have introduced to the UN Security Council … a draft document on anti-terrorism efforts in Syria,” said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“This document is based on fundamental principles approved by the UN and other [international] bodies, and reflects the call from G8 leaders to the Syrian opposition and government to unite and eradicate terrorism in Syria,” said Lavrov.

Meanwhile, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly I. Churkin on Thursday said the two drafts are not “too far apart”.

Moscow on Thursday said the number of terrorist groups in Syria is growing.

“We are alarmed by changes in some of our Western partners’ approaches to the issue of terrorism as such they actually try to justify terrorists and to formulate ultimatums in favour of the supporters of terrorism,” said Lavrov.

Earlier last week, Australia, Jordan and Luxembourg, supported by the UK, US and France, proposed one draft calling for sanctions on Syria if it did not comply with certain demands on supplying humanitarian aid within 15 days.

This one was dismissed by Russia as a “non-starter”.

Russia and China have vetoed three Security Council resolutions that would have imposed sanctions on the Syrian government since fighting broke out there nearly three years ago.

Both sides in Syria’s civil war have accused the other of hampering international efforts to deliver aid to civilians, including in the besieged city of Homs.

UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who brought the Syrian government and opposition together for the second round of direct negotiations this week, met Thursday with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov and US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

Brahimi said after the meeting that Russia and the United States had confirmed their readiness to help remove obstacles obstructing progress in the Syrian peace talks.

Source: Agencies