Lavrov: USA “playing with fire” when trying to partition Syria

Russia is calling the United States to stop “playing with fire” and verify its actions basing on long-term interests of the Syrian people and all nations in the region, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has announced while speaking at a conference of the Valdai International Discussion Club. The conference is titled “Russia in the Middle East: Playing on All Fields.”

The Russian minister accuses the USA of trying to partition Syria; the goal is confirmed by the US activities in the east from the Euphrates, on the Syria-Iraq and Syria-Turkey borders.

“Statements made by our American colleagues that their only goal in Syria is to combat the ISIS (-a terrorist organization banned in Russia - EADaily) and secure the territorial integrity seemingly need to be confirmed by real actions. I reiterate my appeal to the American colleagues not to be playing with fire and verify their actions not on the basis of the current political situation needs, but on the basis of long-term interests of the Syrian people and all the nations in the region, including, of course, the Kurds, wherever they are – in Syria, Iraq, or other countries of the region,” Lavrov stresses.

Speaking on provocative actions of the USA in Syria, the Russian foreign minister states that they engaged units of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party into undermining the territorial integrity of Syria which resulted in exacerbation of the relations with Turkey.