UK Calls on Russia to Cooperate With UNSC on Syrian Conflict Settlement

Russia should cooperate with United Nations Security Council members to resolve the Syrian crisis diplomatically and fight the Islamic State jihadist group, the UK Foreign Office (FCO) told Sputnik on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova – The press service provided no response to Sputnik’s inquiry on Russia’s request for British counterparts to help establish contacts with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) for better coordination in anti-ISIL efforts, but added Moscow should "stop targeting legitimate opposition groups" in Syria.

FSA is an armed Syrian opposition faction considered moderate by Western countries, which seek the removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad from power.

"Russia should work with Security Council members to help find a diplomatic solution to the Syria crisis; to alleviate the human suffering; and to defeat IS [Islamic State]," the FCO press service said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced this week it was informing foreign partners of its readiness to establish contacts with the FSA. One of the FSA founders, Fahad Masri, said on Thursday he had met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Paris, expressing readiness to engage in dialogue with Moscow and Damascus.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said Moscow was willing to reach out to FSA to discuss collaboration in the fight against ISIL militants in Syria.

UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon urged Russia on Friday to use its influence with Syria to "find a diplomatic solution and help alleviate the humanitarian crisis" in the country.

Russia began precision airstrikes against ISIL targets last week at Assad’s request. Earlier in October, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad confirmed that the strikes were being carried out against armed terrorist organizations and not political opposition factions or civilians. He added that Russia’s airstrikes had destroyed 40 percent of Islamic State's infrastructure in Syria.