Lavrov, Kerry Continue Action Plans To Ensure Ceasefire in Syria

PRESS RELEASE

Lavrov, Kerry Continue Action Plans To Ensure Ceasefire in Syria

Aug. 17, 2016 (EIRNS)—Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a telephone discussion with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in which where they discussed coordinated actions to fight terrorists in Syria and to ensure cessation of hostilities, according to TASS.

The two diplomats

"continued discussing the situation in Syria with an accent on the situation in Aleppo, where the Russians support the government forces carry out a large-scale humanitarian operation,"

a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"They discussed in detail preparations for practical implementation of the agreements reached during a visit of John Kerry to Moscow on July 15, regarding coordinated action in [the] fight against terrorist groups in Syria and to ensure the regime of cessation of hostilities,"

the ministry said on Aug. 16.

Col. Christopher Garver, spokesman for the U.S.-led international coalition, told journalists at a press briefing via teleconference, that Russia had fully coordinated its airstrike from Iran to targets in Syria with the allied coalition.

"What I will say is, the Russians did notify the coalition as per the Memorandum of Understanding for safety of flight," Colonel Garver said.

"They activated that system, as we have in the past. They informed us they were coming through and we ensured safety of flight as those bombers passed through the area and toward their target and then when they passed out again. Theyc did not impact coalition operations in either Iraq or Syria during the time,"

the U.S. colonel emphasized.

"We knew in time when they activate the safety of flight memorandum of understanding instructions. It’s not a lot of time, but it’s enough, and it was enough time to make sure that we could ensure safety of flights."