BRUSSELS. Nov 14 (Interfax) - Recent trends are raising hopes for a definitive elimination of terrorism and for intra-Syrian agreements followed by the launch of a political process in Syria, Russian Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said.
"The conditions needed for this are taking shape step-by-step in the context of the Astana meetings, seven of which have been held so far. The setting up of de-escalation areas has now resulted in the situation on the ground improving considerably. Prerequisites are evolving for a return to peaceful life, for starting to restore what has been destroyed, not only physically but also in regard to confidence among various groups of the population," Chizhov said at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
He went on to call on the international community "to support the process of de-escalation and stabilization in Syria, particularly through additional volumes of aid sent to the residents of the country, through facilitating humanitarian demining, through the preservation of historical heritage and the restoration of vital infrastructure, socio-economic infrastructure".
"And of course, one should accelerate the movement towards a long-term and sustainable settlement in the Syrian Arab Republic, the objectives for which were laid in UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The efforts we are making are also meant to help promote the intra-Syrian consultations in Geneva," Chizhov said.
Chizhov went on to recall that Russia's Sochi will host a Syrian national dialogue congress soon and that representatives of 33 Syrian political forces have been invited to attend.
"The main goal, as we see it, is facilitating Syria's preservation as a united, independent, and sovereign nation, with territorial integrity, a secular and democratic state. This is the only way to appropriately ensure the realization of the aspirations of the Syrian people, who will have to decide the future of their own country themselves. The time for dialogue has long since passed. One must not let the moment slip away," Chizhov said.