Russia seeks effective fight against terror: Lavrov

In an address to a special Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Lavrov said Russia was circulating a draft resolution to “ensure a maximally-effective fight against terrorist groups.”
 
The comments came hours after Russian warplanes pounded for the first time positions of militants across Syria, in a move which has apparently irritated Western governments and allies in the Middle East.
 
‘Collective approaches’ needed
 
Lavrov said the resolution would be needed to make the world unite in the fight against terrorist groups, including the Takfiri Daesh militants who operate in Iraq and Syria.
 
“What we require are collective agreed approaches backed by Security Council,” said Lavrov.
 
Commenting on Russia’s airstrikes in Syria, the top Russian diplomat said Moscow would be open to having “standing channels of communication” with the US-led coalition, which has been attacking purported positions of Daesh in northern Iraq and Syria for the past months.
 
Lavrov said the draft UN resolution was a follow-up on an address by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the General Assembly on Monday, where the Russian leader proposed the measure to coordinate all forces standing up against Daesh and other terrorist groups.
 
The Russian foreign minister said some “comprehensive discussion” could follow the draft text in the coming weeks, adding that there was a need “now to forge practical cooperation.”
 
Russia’s long-anticipated airstrikes against militants in Syria officially kicked off on Wednesday, shortly after the upper house of the Russian parliament gave Putin the mandate to use the air force in the Arab country.