MOSCOW. Sept 7 (Interfax) - Russia is searching for points of contact with the United States in Syria but cannot understand the goals pursued by Washington in that country, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in Channel One's Bolshaya Igra program on Thursday.
"Please note that contacts between Moscow and Washington regarding Syria have never stopped; they are ongoing not only between the military to ensure the so-called de-conflicting and avoid unintended incidents, but also in the field of politics. Except these contacts are not publicized, they should not be publicized because the sides' opinions differ greatly," Ryabkov said.
Russia is not speaking of the victory of President Bashar al-Assad or the Syrian government, Ryabkov said. "We say that having ridden of the terrorist threat and every manifestation of a civil conflict, a civil war, the country has a chance to live a normal life, which implies a political process amongst other factors," he said.
The Geneva talks on Syria "have been faltering," but Russia still hopes it will go on, Ryabkov said. The Astana process is not meant to be Geneva's substitute: "our stance is clear, we are trying to find points of contact with the United States but cannot understand the goals the United States has been pursuing in Syria."
"There are indications of support for terrorist groups and Washington's wish to perch on Syria, the other bank of the Euphrates, and at-Tanf," Ryabkov said, adding that the United States was not invited to Syria by the lawful national government.