Sputnik News- Russian, Syrian and Iranian foreign ministers held a trilateral meeting in Moscow on Friday to discuss issues surrounding the settlement and resolution of the Syrian conflict.

The meeting was carried out�a week after�the reported chemical weapons incident in�the province of�Idlib and subsequent US cruise missile strike against�the Ash Sha�irat airbase.

The suspected chemical weapons incident in�Syria's northwestern province on�April 4 claimed dozens of�lives, including those of�children. Blaming the attack on�Syria's President Bashar Assad, the United States launched a cruise missile attack on�the government airfield in�Syria's Homs province overnight on�April 6, which left at�least two civilians from�a nearby village and five Syrian servicemen dead, according to�Homs Governor Talal Barazi.

The Syrian government has denied using chemical weapons against�its own people and stated it did not possess such weapons.

'Strong Message'


Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem called the trilateral meeting a "strong message" after�the US missile strike on�the airfield.

"This meeting is a strong message after�the US aggression in�Syria," Muallem told reporters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressed that all participants of�the meeting agreed that the US strike was "an act of�aggression, a flagrant violation of�the principles of�international law and the UN Charter."
The Russian diplomat went on�to say that Russia, Iran and Syria had jointly insisted that the United States and its allies respect Syrian sovereignty.


"We will insist on�the strict fulfillment by�all without�exception of�those obligations set forth in�the UN Security Council resolution, including full respect for�the sovereignty and territorial integrity of�the Syrian Arab Republic," Lavrov said.

He asserted that attempts to�overthrow the Syrian government embodied in�last week�s missile attack on�the airbase would fail.

Resistance Against Probing Idlib Chemical Attack

Lavrov said that Russia�s proposal on�conducting a comprehensive, independent investigation on�the circumstances surrounding the Idlib attack was being met with�resistance.
"We feel resistance to�the proposal to�conduct an independent, objective investigation, which was demonstrated yesterday at�a special session of�the Executive Council of�the Organization for�the Prohibition of�Chemical Weapons," the minister said.


He pointed out�that those who were creating obstacles for�the investigation must have something to�hide.

"Attempts to�block the proposals of�Russia and Iran to�establish an independent commission to�conduct an impartial, objective investigation only indicate that those, who are trying to�do so have a bad conscience," Lavrov said.

He continued to�note that there existed evidence which proved that the Idlib incident had been staged.

"There is growing evidence that this was staged, meaning the incident with�the use of�chemical weapons in�Idlib province," Lavrov said.
Citing an expert opinion, Russia's top diplomat stated that "there are too many inconsistencies, discrepancies in�the version used to�justify the April 7 aggressive action."


Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that chemical weapons could not be used as�an excuse to�carry out�any action against�the sovereignty or territorial integrity of�an independent state.

"The use of�chemical weapons as�a pretext for�taking actions against�the sovereignty and territorial integrity of�an independent state and a UN member is very dangerous. The international investigation is required in�this case� It is necessary to�prevent such actions in�the future," Zarif said.

He noted that it was important the investigation of�the suspected attack be conducted at�the scene of�the incident, rather than�abroad.

"It is not possible to�investigate this issue remotely. It must be investigated on�the ground. When on�April 4, Syria was accused, we have immediately demanded an investigation, we must establish the fact. Unfortunately, the United States took an aggression even before�the investigation. Thus they did not want the fact to�be established. And they wanted to�use it for�their political goals. We re-emphasize that the investigation should be conducted on�the ground," Zarif told reporters.

What Will Follow Next?


Zarif said that all parties to�the meeting agreed to�boost cooperation on�Syria, specifically in�fighting terrorism, reestablishing the country's political process and conducting an investigation of�the Idlib incident.
"We shall increase the level of�cooperation on�the international level. The first track is the investigation of�his act, of�this incident � The second, international cooperation on�fighting terrorism and extremism � The third direction is restoration of�the political plan," Zarif said after�talks with�Muallem and Lavrov in�Moscow.


According to�Lavrov, the parties also discussed preparations for�new Syrian crisis reconciliation talks in�Astana, which are scheduled for�next month.


"We assign an important role in�our efforts to�the Astana platform, which also stimulated the Geneva process, and we discussed preparations for�the next meeting in�Astana," Lavrov said.

The Russian foreign minister said the Astana talks in�May would be preceded by�Russian, Iranian and Turkish expert consultations in�Tehran next week.