Russia Says US Plans for Distributing Control in Buffer Zone in Syria Unlawful

"I don’t think the United States’ statements it will decide at its sole discretion who will maintain security in the buffer zone will have chances to succeed. These statements are not legitimate," Lavrov said, TASS reported.

"My sincere advice to all those the United States would like to let in there to think thrice before taking such an unlawful action," he added.

Lavrov stated in his address to the participants of the Middle East conference of the Valdai International Discussion Club that Western efforts to impose foreign models of development on Middle Eastern states have undermined the balance that had taken centuries to establish.

"The Middle East, which has been enduring a period of severe tests, still holds a central place on the global agenda. Both the future of the region’s governments, international security and stability hinge on how the situation will develop there," Lavrov said in his address to the forum, read out by Russian Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

"The methods of geopolitical engineering, attempts at imposing foreign models of development and values on the people of the Middle East and North Africa, especially through the use of force, have led to the weakening or collapse of states and an unprecedented surge in international terrorism across a whole number of countries. In addition, (it) has led to a massive migration crisis, destablizing the ethno-confessional balance that had consolidated throughout the centuries," Lavrov pointed out.

Russia’s top diplomat added that Moscow has been consistently calling for overcoming the region's difficulties through political and diplomatic means and by fully complying with international law.

Lavrov also said on Tuesday that Washington is attempting to split Syria and create a quasi-state on the Euphrates River's east bank as the US is opposing the return of Syria's Northeast to the Syrian government, Sputnik reported.

Message end/