Russia calls for simultaneous halt in fighting
Source: Agencies |
March 14, 2012, Wednesday
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SYRIAN government forces will not stop fighting or withdraw from positions unless rebel forces instantly mirror their move, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday, underscoring continued divisions between Moscow and the West.
"This must be simultaneous," said Lavrov, whose talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the United Nations on Monday brought no agreement on how to end more than a year of bloodshed in Syria. "There must not be a situation where it is demanded that the government leave cities and towns and the same not demanded of armed groups," he said.
Lavrov's remarks underscored a rift with Western powers in the UN Security Council, who say President Bashar al-Assad's government should take the first step.
The Russian foreign minister bluntly dismissed that demand, saying Assad's government would not accept it.
"A unilateral withdrawal of government forces is absolutely unrealistic," he said. "The Syrian authorities will not do this, whether we want it or not, and everybody understands this perfectly well."
Russia has no intention of curtailing military cooperation with Syria despite calls from the West to stop arming President Bashar Assad's government, a senior Russian government official said.
Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Russia will abide by existing contracts to deliver weapons to Syria despite Assad's yearlong crackdown on the opposition, during which the UN says over 7,500 people have been killed.
"Russia enjoys good and strong military technical cooperation with Syria, and we see no reason today to reconsider it," Antonov told reporters.
Antonov said Russia's supply of weapons to Syria is in line with international law and will continue. "Russian-Syrian military cooperation is perfectly legitimate," he said.
"The only thing that worries us today is the security of our citizens," Antonov said in a reference to Russian military personnel in Syria that are training the Syrians in the use of weapons supplied by Russia.
He declined to say how many of them are currently stationed in Syria.
Antonov dismissed allegations that Russia has sent special forces officers to assist government forces.
"There are no (Russian) special forces with rifles and grenade launchers running around," he said.
"This must be simultaneous," said Lavrov, whose talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the United Nations on Monday brought no agreement on how to end more than a year of bloodshed in Syria. "There must not be a situation where it is demanded that the government leave cities and towns and the same not demanded of armed groups," he said.
Lavrov's remarks underscored a rift with Western powers in the UN Security Council, who say President Bashar al-Assad's government should take the first step.
The Russian foreign minister bluntly dismissed that demand, saying Assad's government would not accept it.
"A unilateral withdrawal of government forces is absolutely unrealistic," he said. "The Syrian authorities will not do this, whether we want it or not, and everybody understands this perfectly well."
Russia has no intention of curtailing military cooperation with Syria despite calls from the West to stop arming President Bashar Assad's government, a senior Russian government official said.
Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Russia will abide by existing contracts to deliver weapons to Syria despite Assad's yearlong crackdown on the opposition, during which the UN says over 7,500 people have been killed.
"Russia enjoys good and strong military technical cooperation with Syria, and we see no reason today to reconsider it," Antonov told reporters.
Antonov said Russia's supply of weapons to Syria is in line with international law and will continue. "Russian-Syrian military cooperation is perfectly legitimate," he said.
"The only thing that worries us today is the security of our citizens," Antonov said in a reference to Russian military personnel in Syria that are training the Syrians in the use of weapons supplied by Russia.
He declined to say how many of them are currently stationed in Syria.
Antonov dismissed allegations that Russia has sent special forces officers to assist government forces.
"There are no (Russian) special forces with rifles and grenade launchers running around," he said.
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