Russia Defense Ministry challenges US adherence to Syria ceasefire agreement

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Thursday Russia has adhered to its side of the Syrian ceasefire agreement reached with the United States from day one, and contrasted Moscow's faithfulness to the agreement with Washington's 'puzzling' stances on the accord.

"Russia has from the first minute fulfilled its obligations to enforce the ceasefire regime on Syrian territory. At the same time the various US State Department and Pentagon officials’ statements about the prospects of ‘Russian fulfillment’ of the agreements reached on Syria are puzzling," said Konashenkov, Ria Novosti reported.

The spokesman pointed out that "only the Syrian Army adheres to the silence regime" in the three days since its enforcement following the September 9 announcement in Geneva by the Russian and US diplomats.

"At the same time, the US-led 'moderate opposition' builds up the number of attacks on residential neighborhoods. Moreover, it seems that the goal of Washington's 'verbal smokescreen' is to conceal non-compliance with its part of the obligations.

He concluded with stressing that the separation of militants and terrorists is the first and foremost issue in the process.

EA