Kerry: Terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Nusra are a threat to the Syrian people

Moscow, SANA – US State Secretary John Kerry said that terrorist groups like ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra constitute a threat to the Syrian people.

In a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Kerry said that al-Nusra never was part of the cessation of hostilities in Syria, and that targeting al-Nusra is legitimate, adding that changing al-Nusra’s name doesn’t change the fact that it’s a terrorist organization.

In turn, Lavrov said that progress has been made in several areas, and that they discussed the need to separate the “moderate opposition” from ISIS and al-Nusra, in addition to discussing how to deliver humanitarian aid to all Syrian cities.

Lavrov also stressed that there can be no possibility of guaranteeing the cessation of combat activities without separating the “opposition” from terrorists, adding that a new round of direct dialogue between the Syrian government and the “opposition” should be launched.

He also voiced support for the efforts of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura for launching direct dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition, adding that there should be a comprehensive representation of the opposition.

Lavrov noted that Moscow received from Washington for the first time a list of the groups that joined the cessation of combat activities in Syria.

Hazem Sabbagh

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