Counterterrorist operation in Aleppo cannot be stopped, city should be cleansed from militants - Matviyenko
ABU DHABI. Dec 12 (Interfax) - The future of Syria is now being decided in eastern Aleppo; the counterterrorist operation cannot be stopped, Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
"Thanks to the active actions taken by Russia to support the Syrian army, a large portion of the territory was cleansed from terrorists. Now I believe the future of Syria is being decided in eastern Aleppo," Matviyenko said.
She said that despite the heavy resistance from the terrorists and the statements made by the countries of the Western coalition saying that the counterterrorist operation should be stopped, this cannot be done.
"Stopping the counterterrorist operation means making a pause during which the militants will regroup, re-arm and start killing civilians even more fiercely," Matviyenko said.
"We cannot let that happen. The counterterrorist operation in eastern Aleppo should be completed, the city should be fully cleansed from militants and peaceful life should begin there," Matviyenko said.
