Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the West justifies terrorism in Syria regardless of all the international agreements on counterterrorism.

Delivering a speech at Moscow State University on Monday, Lavrov criticized the West for its double-dealing on counterterrorism, saying that the crisis in Syria has reached neighboring Iraq, and the West is helping Iraq in counterterrorism while it is not doing the same thing in Syria.

He said that the most prominent among the repercussions of the “Arab Spring” has been the increased activity of terrorists, noting that the international agreements on Syria have been disregarded for more than two years.

The Russian Foreign Minister stressed that the goal of combating terrorism must be achieved through joining efforts in the Middle East, pointing out that one cannot bet on the use of force in the 21st century.

Last Friday, Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed in a press conference that their countries shared identical views on combating terrorism and extremism in the region and that they were determined on fighting them in all their forms and no matter where they are.

Both ministers also affirmed that there is no alternative for settling the crisis in Syria other than the political diplomatic solution.