Vitaly Churkin confirmed that Russia will present ideas relating to truce at a meeting of the International Syria Support Group in Munich on February 11

UNITED NATIONS, February 11. /TASS/. Russia is discussing with the United States ideas to achieve a ceasefire regime in Syria, as well as humanitarian issues, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said Wednesday. Churkin confirmed that Russia will present ideas relating to truce at a meeting of the International Syria Support Group in Munich on February 11. However, he did not disclose Moscow’s proposals but said these issues are already discussed with Washington on a bilateral basis. "We are holding discussions with the United States, including on the possibility to cease fire and on humanitarian issues," the diplomat said.

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He said Russia is holding dialogue with humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Program. Churkin also told journalists after the closed meeting of the UN Security Council, convened by Spain and New Zealand to discuss the situation in Aleppo, where the Syrian army, supported by Russia, conducts an operation against militants, that Russia will not find excuses for its activities in Syria because it is acting openly in full compliance with international law. "We are not going to find excuses for our actions. We are acting very openly. Our Defense Ministry holds daily briefings, we are present in Syria on legal grounds - at an invitation of the Syrian government," the diplomat said. He said the Syrian opposition needs to expand its delegation and make it more representative before the talks with the Damascus government resume on February 25. He called for involving the internal Syrian opposition, which had held several rounds of consultations in Moscow and Cairo last year, as well as Syrian Kurds in the peace negotiations. Without them, discussing the Syrian settlement is senseless, Churkin said. According to UN statistics, fighting between Syrian government troops and militants has killed over 220,000 people and displaced millions since its start in 2011. Gangs of militants making part of various armed formations, the most active of them being the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations, fight government troops.

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