- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Non-Signatories to Syria Truce Reclassified as Terrorist Groups - Shoigu

© REUTERS / Rodi SaidSyrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters walk with their weapons, north of Raqqa city, Syria November 6, 2016.
Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters walk with their weapons, north of Raqqa city, Syria November 6, 2016. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The armed opposition groups that have not signed the latest ceasefire agreements in Syria are being automatically categorized as terrorist groups, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Shoigu notified President Vladimir Putin that Russia established a direct communication channel with Turkey, a guarantor of compliance with the latest ceasefire deal and particularly of control over compliance.

"The crux of this control is that organizations that are not ending combat operations are moving into the realm of terrorist [groups], and  the actions against them in all other territories apply as they do against Daesh [Islamic State] and Jabhat al-Nusra [Fatah al-Sham]," Shoigu said.

A Syrian flag on the background of ruined houses in the Syrian town of Maaloula, 55 km from Damascus, which was twice captured and looted by Jabhat al-Nusra militants. - Sputnik International
Syrian Government, Armed Opposition Reach Ceasefire Agreement - Putin
Earlier Thursday, Putin said the Syrian government and armed opposition groups had reached an agreement on a ceasefire on Syrian territory and on readiness to start peace talks.

He said a total of three documents had been signed, the first of which is between the Syrian government and the armed opposition on the ceasefire in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. The second document is a set of measures to monitor the ceasefire regime, and the third is a statement of readiness to start peace negotiations.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also said that seven groups that signed a ceasefire agreement in Syria comprise the core and the main fighting force of the armed opposition.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu - Sputnik International
Current Situation in Syria Allows to Reduce Russian Military Presence
Moscow led two-month talks with the heads of the moderate Syrian opposition with Turkey's mediation, Shoigu said at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He said the formations control most of central and northern Syria where Damascus has no presence.

"The total number of troops — more than 60,000 fighters. The most influential commanders of seven opposition formations took part in the negotiations," Shoigu specified.

The defense minister added that the seven armed formations control the bulk of the opposition forces' manpower, artillery and tanks.

"In other words, these groups in fact constitute the core, the main forces of the armed opposition?" Putin asked, an assessment confirmed by the defense minister.

Shoigu stressed that talks were also conducted with the Syrian government, leading to the ability to reconcile positions and sign documents.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала