http://syria.mil.ru/en/index/syria/news/more.htm?id=12118216@egNews

 

11.04.2017 (16:22)The chief of the Main operations Directorate of the General staff of armed forces Colonel-General Sergey Rudskoy held a briefing for media representatives

In Syria continues, the cessation of hostilities, entered December 30, 2016. A number of opposition groups, declared the commitment of his compliance increased to 204.

In the last two weeks of the agreement on reconciliation signed by representatives of 55 settlements, and their total number reached 1452. In a reconciled cities and towns with population of over 3 million 100 thousand people.

Russian centre for the reconciliation of warring parties continues to provide assistance to civilians throughout Syria.

From February 2016, the Russian military conducted 1044 humanitarian action in which civilians taken more than 1600 tonnes of food and Essentials.

Yesterday the column of the Russian Center for conciliation was taken to the refugee camp “Shahbaa” around the city of Afrin, Aleppo province 8 tons of humanitarian aid.

Military doctors of the Ministry of defense of Russia qualified medical assistance provided to 14 thousand patients.

Syrian sappers, prepared by experts of the International mine centre of the Russian Armed Forces completed the demining of residential areas in Eastern Aleppo, liberated from the militants. Work is underway on the reconstruction of houses and other social infrastructure. Today in the city of Aleppo to their homes and returned more than seven thousand families.

The Russian engineers carry out the cleaning of ancient Palmyra from mines and explosive objects. Today cleared 21 socially significant object, including 10 schools, 9 mosques, 2 clinic.

Checked 1894 buildings and houses in the 1135 acres, 115 kilometers of roads have been cleared more than five thousand explosive devices and improvised explosive devices.

Videoconferencing Russia continues to support the Syrian army units and detachments of the militia leading the fight against ISIS and groups “Dzhabhat an-Nusra”.

At the same time, in accordance with the agreements reached with the leaders of the groups of the Syrian opposition, we still have not received the map showing areas controlled by the opposition and terrorists. This makes it very difficult for our actions to combat terrorists of “Jabhat EN-Nusra” and the Islamic state.

Three months of 2017, the terrorists released 226 settlements and about 3 900 square kilometers of Syrian territory.

In the North-East of the province of Aleppo over the past two weeks, government troops destroyed the surrounded group of terrorists near the town of DEIR HAFIR and continue to advance along the West Bank of the Euphrates river. To date, the promotion was 10 kilometers. The Syrian army came to the airport of Gera.

As a result of emergency repairs at the dam at al-TABQA was able to partially reconstruct the performance of the spillway and reduce the water pressure on the dam.

Now, however, the repair work suspended due to ongoing developments in the area of active hostilities and attacks by the militants.

Let me remind you that on March 26, as a result of air strikes of the coalition led by the United States on the dam, in the southern part of the dam was damaged damper, to ensure the discharge of water and to prevent overflow of the reservoir.

Near Palmyra, the Syrian army units continue to expand the security zone around the city.

The offensive launched by the Syrian armed forces fighters are retreating and leave the commanding heights. For the current month under the control of government forces have moved more than 230 square kilometers of territory.

Taking advantage of the consequences of the attack by American cruise missiles at the airfield “Sirat”, which the Syrian air force has acted in areas of Hama and Palmyra, terrorists carried out the counter-attack by units of government troops from the South-West direction. All militants ‘ attacks were repelled, destroyed 2 tanks, 3 infantry fighting vehicles and 8 pickups with heavy machine guns, and more than 150 terrorists.

In the city of Hama with the support of Russian air force continues successful offensive actions of government troops.

The terrorists released 13 settlements on the area of 67 square kilometers, including the town of Khattab and Marges.

Trying to restore the lost position, action, suffering enormous losses, are making unsuccessful attempts of counter-attacks on positions of the Syrian army.

Only yesterday in the city of Mardes reflected by 3 enemy counterattacks, during which destroyed 7 tanks, 5 infantry fighting vehicles and 200 fighters. In addition, the terrorists of “Jabhat EN-Nusra” captured 1 tank, 2 infantry fighting vehicles and 2 mortar.

Thus, the enemy is suffering defeat after defeat and leaves the territory under their control.

In these circumstances, the government of Bashar al-Assad, there is no need to use chemical weapons. Moreover, it is the Syrian army is not.

As you know, in 2013 Syria voluntarily joined the Convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons and submitted to the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons a detailed information on its military chemical programme.

Further, in the period from 2013 to 2016 under the control of the OPCW special equipment of production facilities of chemical weapons is given in the off state, and all means of delivery have been eliminated.

Stocks of toxic chemicals was shipped on the American vessel “Cape ray”, and then disposed of at the enterprises of the USA, the UK, Finland and Germany.

Of the 12 sites used for the storage and production of chemical weapons experts of OPCW confirmed the destruction 10. The remaining two objects, the Syrian authorities do not have access because they are on the territory controlled by the so-called opposition.

For this reason, the OPCW could not confirm the fact of destruction of chemical weapons on them.

I want to note that the international inspectors had conducted additional audits of a number of Syrian objects that were not related to the production and storage of chemical weapons. Facts of production, or any presence of toxic substances they are also not revealed.

That is, Syria, as a party to the Convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons, has fulfilled its obligations and eliminated all the special equipment for producing chemical weapons, the body head parts of the rockets, aviation bombs and stockpiles of toxic chemicals.

This fact was documented and confirmed by official representatives of the OPCW. It reflects that Syria has no chemical weapons.

At the same time, recorded cases of use of chemical weapons by opposition forces, including Handicrafts. For some of them the investigation handed over to representatives of the OPCW.

Let me remind you that on 16 November 2016, experts of the Ministry of defense of Russia in the region Marret-Umm-Haouch Aleppo province were surveyed applied by fighters against civilians from unexploded mortar shell Handicrafts caliber 240-mm. Russian specialists have confirmed the presence of toxic substances skin-blister agents type mustard gas.

The results of the research in January of 2017 was submitted to the OPCW by the national authority Syria responsible for the implementation of the Convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons.

We have carefully analysed the available materials in mass media with accusations of Syrian government use of chemical weapons in the village of Khan shaykhun, Idlib province.

Their authenticity is questionable, and not only to us. Many reputable experts and organizations tend to agree about the fabricated nature of the video.

However the United States chose once again not to wait for the results of the investigation and in violation of international law April 7, ordered the missile strike on the airfield in Shayrat which killed nine civilians, including four children, about a dozen people were wounded.

On this basis, we demand a thorough investigation of the so-called chemical attack Syrian air strike on the town of Khan Shaykhun.

In turn, we are ready to provide every opportunity to ensure the safety and to allow independent experts and representatives of the OPCW at the airport “Shirt” for the examination. Specialists know that the traces of chemical weapons cannot be concealed.

The Syrian government also expressed readiness to allow experts on the airfield and to contribute to their work.

In addition, according to our information, the militants currently deliver to the areas of Khan Sheyhun, airport jíra, East ghouta and West of the city of Aleppo toxic substances.

The purpose of these actions is creating another reason for accusations of Syrian government use of chemical weapons and the spawning of new US attacks.

Be warned about the inadmissibility of such steps.