Russia calls Syrian opposition to join fight against terrorism

MOSCOW - 18 August 2017: The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that Moscow hopes the Syrian opposition will join the fight against terrorism in Syria, Sputnik news agency reported.

The establishment of de-escalation zones in Syria opens the possibility to focus on the elimination of the terrorist hotbeds there, it said.

"We expect that the patriotically minded part of the Syrian opposition will be more actively involved in that uncompromising struggle in the military, political and ideological sense," the statement said.

The ministry added it was necessary to intensify efforts within the Astana format in order to establish the fourth de-escalation zone in the Idlib province.

"Russia and other guarantors (Turkey and Iran) and observers (Jordan, the US and the UN) of the Astana process, Kazakhstan, the government of Syria and delegates from the armed opposition groups participating in the ceasefire have been taking proactive steps to prepare for a sixth international high-level meeting on Syria in Astana," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The Russian Defense Ministry also announced it managed to encourage all moderate armed opposition groups to join the de-escalation agreement that includes all areas of the East Ghouta regions.

In a statement, the ministry said it signed an agreement with one of the largest armed groups in East Ghouta to join the fight against Daesh and Al Nusra Front elements.