"John Kerry has recently visited us. They [Russia's partners] say that maybe it is worth to join forces in the fight against terrorism but first we need to agree on removal of Assad," the minister said.
According to the minister, after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had been overthrown, the country became "a breeding ground for terrorism" and "Libya has not existed as a united country" since that time. Iraq found itself in the same situation, Lavrov added.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. The United States and their western allies have many times tried to accuse Assad of being responsible for the bloodshed and insisted on his resignation.
