Ban Ki-moon talks Syria with Russian top diplomat Lavrov

UN, October 2. /TASS/. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon discussed on Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov the fight against terrorism in Syria, including against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization, the press service of the UN chief announced after the meeting. "The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed the latest developments in Syria, including the campaign against ISIL and other terrorist groups, agreeing that any air strikes should be carried out with strict observance of international humanitarian and international human rights law," a statement from the spokesman of the UN secretary general said. "It was noted by the UN side that terrorist groups targeted by the military campaign should be exclusively those specified in the relevant UN Security Council Resolution and that the use of indiscriminate munitions, in particular barrel bombs, should immediately cease," the statement said. "The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister agreed on the need for a full and comprehensive political solution to the conflict in Syria," the statement added. On Wednesday, the Federation Council, which is the upper house of the Russian parliament, unanimously granted permission to the Russian president to use the nation’s military force in Syria. "The Federation Council unanimously supported the president’s request - 162 votes in favor [of granting permission]," Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Ivanov said on Wednesday. Russia would use only its Air Force in Syria against IS upon a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad, Ivanov said, adding that no ground operation was planned. Read more