Lavrov:

US Steps on Eastern Bank of Euphrates River Violate Syria’s Integrity

TEHRAN (defapress)- Unacceptable things are happening on the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River in Syria and the United States’ steps violate territorial integrity of the Arab Republic, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

News ID: 74096

Date: 03 December 2018 - 14:10

"What is happening on the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River clearly violates the commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity, declared by all and confirmed in the UN Security Council’s resolution. In my view, this is already evident for all," Lavrov stressed in an interview with the program "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" on Rossiya 1 TV channel.

The US is trying to pretend that its steps are temporary, the foreign minister noted.

Some US moves in the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River and in other Syrian areas, where Washington has its commandos and advisers, include playing the Kurdish card, he said.

"This is a very dangerous game, taking into account that the Kurdish issue is vital in a whole number of regional states [in Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey]," Lavrov said.

According to Lavrov, the west does not have its alternative strategy on Syria.

"Unacceptable things are happening on the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River. The US is trying to establish quasi-state structures, they earmark hundreds of millions of dollars into rebuilding these areas, so that people could return to a normal peaceful life, but they refuse to restore infrastructure on the territories, which are controlled by the Syrian government," he said.

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