(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) NEW YORK, Sept 23 (KUNA) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday any cessation of hostilities in Syria would be "meaningless" without separation of moderate opposition from Al-Nusra Front and so-called Islamic State (IS) on the ground.
"We are all in favor of a ceasefire, but without separation of Nusra (and IS) the ceasefire is meaningless," Lavrov told a news conference following his UN General Assembly (UNGA) speech.
His remarks followed back-to-back meetings with US Secretary of State John Kerry, both bilaterally or within the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), all aimed at preserving a fragile cessation of hostilities agreement reached by the two men earlier this month.
The agreement is at risk after an attack on a UN-Syrian Red Crescent convoy destined for Aleppo, killing some 20 people and injured many others.
Lavrov said the US-led coalition has so far failed to separate the moderate opposition it supported on the ground from Nusra Front and IS, both classified as terrorist groups by the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Lavrov, saying the Russian military was ready to locate positions of Nusra in Syria, was reiterating that any process in Syria should happen by fighting terrorism, a ceasefire between government and moderate opposition groups except Nusra and IS, delivery of humanitarian aid, and immediately and unconditional launch of the political process among the parties.
But "we understand this is a difficult task, but everything is difficult in Syria," he said and lashed out at Syrian opposition who lay out conditions for participation in any political process.
Lavrov, who called for an international investigation over the Aleppo convoy attack, said in his UNGA speech that the Syrians were the only ones who should determine the future of their country.
He also said there would not be a humanitarian access without rooting out of terrorist groups. (end) mao.bs