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Colleagues, I have invited you here so we can once again assess 

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the situation concerning settlement of the Syrian crisis.

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I propose that the Defence Minister starts with his 

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assessment of what is happening there. Please, go ahead.

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Mr President,

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In accordance with your instructions,

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we began the Syrian operation on September 30.

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In total, over the course of this time,

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we have carried out more than 9,000 flights, and for the first time,

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we carried out massive strikes with dispersed weaponry at a distance 

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of over 1,500 kilometres using both air- and sea-based missiles.

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In this time, as a result of the strikes,

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we were able to significantly hinder,

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and in some places completely stop resource support for terrorists 

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by intercepting hydrocarbon trade,

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blocking the main routes for hydrocarbon supplies to Turkey 

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and the main routes for weapons and ammunition deliveries to militants.

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The terrorists have been driven out of Latakia,

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communication has been restored with Aleppo,

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Palmyra is under siege and combat actions are being continued 

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to liberate it from unlawful armed groups.

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We have cleared most of the provinces of Hama and Homs,

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unblocked the Kweires airbase, which was blocked for more than three 

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years, established control over oil and gas fields near Palmyra: three 

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large fields that, as of now, have begun to operate steadily.

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Over 2,000 criminals who have come from Russia have been eliminated 

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in Syria’s territory, including 17 field commanders.

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Our air force destroyed 209 facilities for producing,

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processing and transferring fuel, as well as 2,

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912 sources of petroleum product delivery.

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In total, with support from our air force,

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the Syrian troops liberated 400 towns and over 10,

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000 square kilometres of territory.

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We have had a significant turning point in the fight against terrorism.

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Organisations involved in this work as a result of the negotiation 

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process have begun taking active steps to ensure the ceasefire 

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(there are currently 42 such organisations);

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plus, an additional 40 towns that joined the ceasefire.

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There is monitoring over observance of the ceasefire;

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a fairly large number of unmanned aerial vehicles – over 70 –

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are being used for this purpose,

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as are all means of gathering intelligence,

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including electronic intelligence and our satellite constellation.

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I could continue this report, Mr President,

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but I think these are the main outcomes of our work at this time.

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Thank you.

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Mr Lavrov, how is the peace process proceeding?

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Mr President, in addition to the results that were achieved directly 

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on the ground during military actions to repress terrorists,

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our Aerospace Forces operation helped create conditions 

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for the political process.

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We have consistently advocated establishing an intra-Syrian dialogue 

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in accordance with the decisions made in 2012.

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Our suggestions were met with a lack of will on the part of all our 

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partners working on this process.

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But since the start of the operations by our Aerospace 

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Forces, the situation began to change.

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The initial steps were gradually taken,

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first based on your talks with US President Barack Obama: 

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the Russian-American group began to prepare a broader process 

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for external support for intra-Syrian talks.

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An international Syria support group was created,

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which included all the key players without exception,

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including regional powers.

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Agreements on the parameters for the Syrian political process achieved 

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in this group were approved by two UN Security Council resolutions,

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which confirmed the three-way process of ceasing hostilities,

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broadening access to humanitarian supplies in previously besieged areas 

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and starting intra-Syrian talks.

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Thanks to these decisions, including your latest agreement with 

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President Obama, today intra-Syrian talks between the Government 

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delegation and delegations of multiple opposition groups have finally 

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been launched in Geneva.

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The work is difficult and we have yet to see how all these 

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groups can gather at one table.

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For now, UN representatives are working individually with each of them,

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but the process has begun, and it is in our common interest to make it 

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sustainable and irreversible.

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In a short period, Russia has created a military group that is small 

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in number but quite effective –

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one consisting of different types of forces and diverse capabilities.

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These include space reconnaissance, drones,

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combat missile strike systems in fighter aircraft and assault aircraft.

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They also include Navy forces that used the most modern weaponry from 

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two seas – the Mediterranean and the Caspian –

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while working from surface ships and submarines.

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We created a powerful air defence system,

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including the most modern S-400 complexes.

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The truly effective work by our troops has created 

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conditions to start the peace process.

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I feel that the objectives set before the Defence Ministry 

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and the Russian Armed Forces in the Syrian Arab Republic 

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have generally been fulfilled.

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With participation by Russian troops and Russian military grouping,

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the Syrian troops and Syrian patriotic forces,

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we were able to radically change the situation in fighting 

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international terrorism and take initiative in nearly all areas 

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to create the conditions for the start of a peace process, as I said.

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At the same time, our service members – soldiers and officers –

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have demonstrated professionalism,

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teamwork and the ability to organise this military work far from their 

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territory, without a common border with the seat of war.

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They operated effectively over the course of nearly half a year,

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bringing the necessary supplies and guidance to the military operations.

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I feel that the objective set before the Defence Ministry and the Armed 

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Forces is generally fulfilled, so I order the Defence Ministry to begin 

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withdrawing the main part of our military group from the Syrian Arab 

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Republic beginning tomorrow.

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I ask the Foreign Ministry to intensify the Russian Federation’s 

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participation in organising the peace process to resolve 

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Syria’s problems.

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At the same time, our base points –

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our maritime base in Tartus and our aviation base at the Hmeymim 

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airbase – will function as before.

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They must be protected securely from land, sea and air.

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This part of our military group was located in Syria over the course 

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of many previous years, and today,

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it must continue to fulfil the highly important function of monitoring 

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the ceasefire and creating conditions for the peace process.

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I hope that today’s decision will be a good signal for all 

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conflicting sides. I hope that this will significantly lift the level 

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of trust between all participants in the Syrian peace process 

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and promote resolving the Syrian issue via peaceful means.