Russia, Tunisia satisfied that ceasefire in Syria holds - Lavrov

MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. The intra-Syrian talks in Geneva should include the whole range of opposition forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday following talks with his Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui. "Russia and Tunisia are unanimous that it is necessary to comply with resolutions 2254 and 2258 of the UN Security Council, which endorse the decisions of the International Syria Support Group developed by the co-chairs of this mechanism - Russia and the United States," the minister noted. "The intra-Syrian dialogue is to begin in Geneva today," Lavrov said. "We follow the way the participants in this dialogue both from the government and the opposition are formed. It is clear that it should include the entire spectrum of Syrian political forces. Otherwise, it cannot claim to be a representative forum discussing the key issues of Syria’s future." "Of course, we have mutual satisfaction over the fact that the cessation of hostilities continues to hold despite some violations," the minister said. "At the same time, an uncompromising struggle is underway against the so-called Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra (terrorist groups outlawed in Russia - TASS) and other terrorist groups, according to the list approved by the UN Security Council." Read more