MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Medvedev stressed that Russia together with the Syrian government are working on eliminating terrorism and not allowing it to spread to other countries.
"But the main thing is to make sure that Syria has a predictable future and can exist as a self-sufficient, independent state rather than disintegrate into a number of terrorist enclaves, something that, regrettably, has happened to Libya and some other countries in the Middle East," Medvedev said.
Medvedev added that Russia would abide by its agreements with Syria, but will make decisions according to the national interests.
There is no military solution to the Syrian crisis and all the issues related to the future of the country should be solved at the negotiating table, he said.
"The Russian Federation’s position is well known. It has been repeatedly said by the Russian president… There is no military solution to the Syrian problem. The forces that want peace in Syria should sit down at the negotiating table and come to terms on Syria’s future and the future political system. This is unrelated to the fate of individual leaders, although, of course, they cannot be dropped from the context. This is unrelated to the discussion of the issue connected with Bashar Assad, although he is the incumbent president, the legitimate president and should take part in it," Medvedev said.
The Russian prime minister stressed that the most important part is to bring all the constructive powers to the negotiating table to reach a peaceful settlement of the problem.
"But this is precisely where we have the main problem – how to separate those who want peace and adhere to constructive positions from terrorist groups. This issue is being debated, rather heatedly. We are locked in a debate with the United States and the Europeans," he said.
