Russia’s top diplomat also added that Washington is making a big mistake by refusing to coordinate their anti-terror campaign with Moscow.
“We are ready to back the patriotic opposition, including the so-called Free Syrian Army, with our air support. However, Washington is refusing to inform us of the locations of the terrorists and where the opposition is based,” Lavrov said in an interview with the Rossiya television channel.
“The most important thing for us is to find people who will be true representatives of the armed groups who will confront terrorism among other things,” he added.
According to Lavrov, Russia “has never stopped working” either with Syrian President Bashar Assad, or with the Syrian opposition.
“I believe we are probably the only country which supported and will support contacts with all political forces in Syria,” he said.
Russia launched airstrikes targeting positions of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) militants in Syria on September 30 following a formal request from President Bashar Assad. As of October 23, Moscow’s air force has destroyed 819 IS targets in 934 sorties, according to Defence Ministry.
