Russia, France agree on political resolution of Syria crisis

'We discussed key international issues focusing on the situation in Syria. We believe there are signs of tangible progress. Three de-escalation zones are operational in southwestern Syria, Eastern Ghouta and northern Homs province. The sixth international meeting on Syrian settlement will take place in Astana on September 13-15, which we hope will lead to the creation of the fourth de-escalation zone in Idlib. It is the most complex one, that’s why its coordination has taken so long. After that, we will be in an even better position to improve the humanitarian situation there,' Lavrov said on Thursday according to the official website of Russian Federation Foreign Ministry.

He was talking to reporters in a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian in Moscow

Lavrov said, 'Humanitarian aid is delivered to the three existing zones without hindrance. All this allows the government troops and the armed groups which signed ceasefire agreements in connection with the creation of de-escalation zones to focus on addressing the main task which is neutralizing the remaining international terrorist groups in Syria, primarily, Daesh (also known as ISIS), Jabhat al-Nusra, and other organizations designated as terrorist by the UN Security Council.

He also stressed that Moscow shares the concerns expressed by Paris that terrorists may flee from Syria to other countries.

'We share France’s concerns over the possibility that terrorists may flee from Syria to Europe, Asia or Russia, and start stirring up new threats,' he said. 'Terrorists must be obliterated, none should be allowed to escape,' the Russian top diplomat added.