Moscow, Damascus have similar but not identical views on Syrian settlement - Kremlin

MOSCOW, February 24. /TASS/. Moscow and Damascus keep up constant dialogue and have similar but not necessarily identical views on the Syrian settlement, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday answering reporters’ question on the attitude of the Syrian authorities towards the ceasefire agreements in this country approved by the Russian and U.S. leaders. "Moscow and Damascus in many ways have similar views on what is happening and on the prospects for a political settlement, but these views are not absolutely identical. Of course, there are differences," the Kremlin spokesman said. He noted that "Moscow and Damascus maintained constant dialogue," without which it would be impossible to deal with the Syrian settlement. When asked whether Damascus had been involved in discussions on a ceasefire, Peskov said that "those were closed bilateral Russian-U.S. talks," since Moscow and Washington "could effectively contribute to the settlement." "Assad is the legitimate president of Syria, the only legitimate president of Syria. Naturally, he may have his own views on various modalities of the Syrian settlement. However, in this case Russia and the United States will use their influence, their potential to bring closer the stances of the countries that have diametrically opposite views on the settlement," Peskov said, adding that "meticulous work was required here." According to the Kremlin press service, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad discussed Syrian settlement issues over the phone on Wednesday. It noted that the Syrian leader had reaffirmed his readiness to promote the ceasefire. The Russian and U.S. presidents on Monday adopted a statement on truce in Syria. Under the plan the two sides declared the possibility of establishing the truce. For that all rival factions will be obliged to comply with the conditions identified in the statement. Russia and the United States pledged to influence on political forces in Syria close to them for the sake of achieving truce. The ceasefire proposal does not apply to the groups declared as terrorist by the United Nations, such as the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra outlawed in Russia. Strikes against both groups will continue. Read more