Lavrov Meets With Iranian, Turkish, Syrian Counterparts in MoscowInternationalIndiaAfricaThe United States has started the creation of the so-called “Free Syria Army” with the participation of terrorist organizations in order to destabilize the situation in the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.”According to our information, the US has began to create the so-called ‘Free Syrian Army’ in the vicinity of the Syrian Raqqa with the participation of representatives of local Arab tribes, militants of Daesh* and other terrorist organizations,” Lavrov said during a meeting with the foreign ministers of Iran, Syria and Turkiye.WorldAssad to Sputnik: International Coalition Needed to Counter US Hegemony16 March, 08:59 GMTThe US wants to use these fighters against the legitimate authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic to destabilize the situation in the country, the minister added. He said that US should stop undermining peace in the region and respect the will of the people of the Middle East.US backs jihadist groups since the outbreak of conflict in 2011. Currently, US army illegally controls oil-rich territories of Syria.

Turkiye-Syria Rapprochment

Commenting on the Turkish-Syrian normalization process, top diplomat stressed it has a positive impact on the situation in the region and the Middle East as a whole.”The launch of the process of Syrian-Turkish normalization … has a noticeable positive impact not only on the situation around Syria but also on the general atmosphere in the Middle East region as a whole,” Lavrov stated.Turkiye and Syria always were at some odds, but tensions heated up after the start of civil war in Syria, instigated by US. Russia invested time and efforts to normalize situation, hosting a surprise meeting of defense ministers of both countries last December and initiating a series of talks between top diplomats of Syria and Turkiye with support of Iran.WorldUS May Attempt Coup in Turkiye During Upcoming Presidential Election – Turkish Minister 3 May, 22:50 GMT

Forthcoming Turkiye Elections

Referring to upcoming elections in Turkiye, Russian FM expressed the hope that the they will be held without any external meddling.”I would like to take this opportunity to wish our Turkish colleagues a successful general elections. These elections, as I know, have already begun outside the country. I am sure that they will be honest, transparent, and will ensure the will of the Turkish people without any outside interference,” Lavrov said.Turkiye’s presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled on May 14. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, put forward by an opposition alliance, is considered incumbent president Erdogan’s main opponent. The list of candidates also includes Muharrem Ince of the Homeland Party and Sinan Ogan of the ATA Alliance.*Daesh is a terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

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