Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed on Tuesday that preparations for the Syrian national dialogue are taking place hoping it would take place in the near future. He added that war on terrorism is almost over in Syria and warned against any suspension of efforts for political settlement for the Syrian crisis.
Russian Foreign Ministry stated that over the past two years in Syria, 54,000 militant had been killed.
Asked whether the congress was postponed, Lavrov told a briefing that the date had not been officially announced.
“No one has postponed it because the date of the congress has not been officially announced,” he added, knowing that Russia had previously announced it would be on November 18.
He reiterated that war on terrorism in Syria is almost over, adding that as far as the Syrian conflict is concerned, the political process is becoming even more important.
Lavrov said that global players should redouble efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the six-year war as the Syrian regime edges closer to victory after an ISIS loss.
Lavrov said some opposition groups had refused to hold negotiations, but added that the “feedback is rather positive.”
He added that he hoped that the United Nations would support holding the congress, stating: “There shouldn’t be any breaks in the efforts of the international community.”
The FM stated that Moscow is informing UN Envoy Stephan Di Mistura of all the preparations taken as well all US, European, Gulf and Arab countries and partners.
Russia's Foreign Ministry confirmed that over 1,000 residential area had been liberated over the past two years during the Russian military operations.
More than 54,000 militants have been killed in Syria over the past two years, including about 800 natives of Russia and 1,400 from the former Soviet republics, Chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov said at a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry board.
Gerasimov recalled that, by the beginning of the operation, terrorist groups controlled more than 70% of Syria’s territory and continued to advance in all directions.
"During the two years of our armed forces’ participation in the fighting, it was possible not only to turn the tide of the hostilities in favor of government troops but also rout big militant groups in the most important areas, liberate the key cities and recapture major communication lines," Gerasimov concluded.
