President Putin names world's 'most urgent' tasks in Syria

Sputnik
Tue, 03 Oct 2017 18:51 UTC

© AP Photo/ Hassan Ammar

In this May 18, 2017, photo, a Syrian National flag hangs out of a damaged building at the mountain resort town of Zabadani in the Damascus countryside, Syria

Speaking at a ceremony of the presentation of credentials of new ambassadors on Tuesday, the Russian leader said Moscow "will continue making a contribution within its powers, including in the Syrian direction."

Putin went on by stating that the expansion of humanitarian aid deliveries and de-mining of the liberated territories in Syria are "today's most urgent tasks."

"Everyone, who genuinely wishes peace to Syria and its people, who genuinely wish refugees to return to their homes, should join these processes under the aegis of the United Nations," Putin said at the ceremony.

The president also said that the intra-Syrian talks that had been taking place in Kazakhstan's capital of Astana should help the negotiating process on the resolution of the Syrian crisis in Geneva. The agreements reached in Astana on de-escalation zones create conditions for transition to direct dialogue between Damascus and opposition, he added.

"These agreements create the conditions for the advancement toward the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 based on the direct dialogue between the government and opposition, joining their efforts in the interest of swift eradication of terrorist hotbeds, the establishment of peace and maintaining the unity of Syria," Putin added.

The resolution 2254, adopted in 2015 calls for a ceasefire and the political settlement of the Syrian conflict.

Comment: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow backs the idea of UN reform and its adaptation to the modern day demands, but these should be quality changes.

"Russia is committed to the tasks of increasing efficiency of the United Nations Organization, we support its reforms and adaptation to the modern day demands," Putin told a presentation of credentials ceremony by ambassadors.

"We believe it is important that any quality changes in the organization's work should be well-thought and should be carried out if not with the agreement of all, but with a broad consensus of the global community participants," Putin stressed.

Putin recalled that at the recent session of the UN General Assembly there were concerns over the growing number of challenges and threats, which the international community is facing.

"Under these circumstances, the UN remains a guarantor of stability and predictability in international affairs, and its universal character is not in doubt," he said.