Russian reconciliation center's operation in Aleppo helps save lives of nearly 10,000 Syrians - Russian Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. Dec 17 (Interfax) - An operation conducted by the Russian center for the reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria to withdraw militants and their families from eastern Aleppo has helped save the lives of about 10,000 people, which provides the chance for ending hostilities in other regions of Syria as well, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.
"The operation completed by the Russian reconciliation center to safely evacuate militants together with their families from Aleppo is unique not only in that it has saved the lives of nearly 10,000 Syrians. This operation has opened a new window of opportunities for imposing the cessation of hostilities regime not only on the Aleppo governorate but also on other regions of Syria," Konashenkov told journalists on Saturday.
Officers from the Russian reconciliation center have in fact "separated militants from the so-called 'moderate opposition' from irreconcilable radicals," that is, "have done something that our American partners have deemed impossible to do in practice for a whole year," Konashenkov said.
"This operation conducted by the Russian reconciliation center has shown what is needed today to further move ahead in terms of reconciliation in Syria, that is, the desire to reach agreement with all conflicting parties right on the ground, except terrorist groups," he said.
"All attempts to replace this hard negotiating work with the armed opposition on the ground by some conferences in cozy Western capitals with members of 'high negotiations committees' or by sending some 'observers' to Aleppo are a futile way to nowhere," he said.
"The sooner this is understood in Paris, London, and Washington, which have so far been unable even to send humanitarian aid to Syria, the sooner peace will come there," Konashenkov said.