Lavrov: We Cannot Be Part of the Coalition, which Operates Without the Security Council Mandate

• 10.02.2015, 09:11
•  Near East,  World

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during the press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York commented on the Russia's involvement in Syria and their membership in the international US-led coalition against Islamic State terrorist organization, Sputnik News reports. 

On the occasion he noted:

"We believe that the Free Syrian Army should be part of the political process, like some other armed groups on the ground composed of the Syrian patriotic opposition. This is absolutely necessary for the political process to hold and to be sustainable."

As for Russia's membership in the coalition, Russia noted that they can not be part of the actions that operate without the Security Council mandate.

"For more than one year, the coalition has been bombing Syria without the consent of the Syrian government, without an 'OK' from the Security Council, without informing anyone…. We, indeed, are interested in cooperation with the coalition. We cannot be part of the coalition, which operates without the Security Council mandate and without request from one of the countries on whose territory they operate."