MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The success of the Russian operation against the Islamic State militant group in Syria could pave the way for a political settlement of the crisis in the country, South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad told Sputnik.
"What I’ve understood and what I’ve read is clearly in the three weeks of the Russian offensive on request of the Syrian government, Daesh [IS] has been hit very hard in Syria and I think that is opening up the possibilities and creating conditions for a political solution," Pahad said.
Last week, the foreign ministers of Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Turkey held talks on Syria in Vienna, Austria.
According to Pahad, the Russian efforts to have meetings with other countries on how to deal with ISIL are very important. Pahad expressed hope that the Vienna meeting would lead to broader negotiations on the Syrian issue.
"I reject any notion that been suggested that Russians are hitting moderate terrorists. There are no moderate terrorists you are either a terrorist or you’re not a terrorist. And from all indications the Russian offensive has been very successful," Pahad added.
Russia has been conducting precision airstrikes on ISIL positions in Syria at the request of President Bashar Assad since September 30.
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 already destroyed 40 percent of ISIL infrastructure in Syria.
