Russian official: Assad is prepared to leave
Source: Agencies |
July 21, 2012, Saturday
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RUSSIA'S ambassador to France said yesterday that he believes Syria's president is ready to step down "in a civilized way." But the Syrian government immediately denied it.
Alexander Orlov said that Bashar Assad's acceptance of an international agreement in June for a transition toward a more democratic regime, and his subsequent step of naming a representative to negotiate the transition, meant that he was prepared to give up leadership.
The country is sliding into even further chaos, with fighting around the capital Damascus intensifying two days after the inner circle of Assad's government was hit by an attack that killed four top Syrian security officials.
"Personally ... I think it will be difficult for him to stay in office given everything that's happened," Orlov said in an interview with Radio France Internationale.
Syrian TV quickly said that the interview had been taken out of context. Russian Embassy spokesman Sergei Parinov also said the ambassador's statement was "incorrectly interpreted" by international media.
Moscow bristled at Western attempts to "put the blame" on Russia for escalating the Syrian civil war, hours after Moscow vetoed the UN Security Council resolution meant to pressure Assad's government to end the conflict.
The West has been intensifying its pressure on Assad, with the latest move coming from the EU.
European Union nations will enforce an arms embargo against Syria by boarding ships and aircraft carrying suspicious cargo to the war-torn nation, an official said yesterday.
The senior EU official said obligatory inspections will start after being adopted by foreign ministers next Monday.
The 28-nation bloc banned arms exports to Syria in May 2011. But until now, governments couldn't decide whether to check suspicious cargo. The inspections will take place only on EU territory or in its waters, the official said.
Alexander Orlov said that Bashar Assad's acceptance of an international agreement in June for a transition toward a more democratic regime, and his subsequent step of naming a representative to negotiate the transition, meant that he was prepared to give up leadership.
The country is sliding into even further chaos, with fighting around the capital Damascus intensifying two days after the inner circle of Assad's government was hit by an attack that killed four top Syrian security officials.
"Personally ... I think it will be difficult for him to stay in office given everything that's happened," Orlov said in an interview with Radio France Internationale.
Syrian TV quickly said that the interview had been taken out of context. Russian Embassy spokesman Sergei Parinov also said the ambassador's statement was "incorrectly interpreted" by international media.
Moscow bristled at Western attempts to "put the blame" on Russia for escalating the Syrian civil war, hours after Moscow vetoed the UN Security Council resolution meant to pressure Assad's government to end the conflict.
The West has been intensifying its pressure on Assad, with the latest move coming from the EU.
European Union nations will enforce an arms embargo against Syria by boarding ships and aircraft carrying suspicious cargo to the war-torn nation, an official said yesterday.
The senior EU official said obligatory inspections will start after being adopted by foreign ministers next Monday.
The 28-nation bloc banned arms exports to Syria in May 2011. But until now, governments couldn't decide whether to check suspicious cargo. The inspections will take place only on EU territory or in its waters, the official said.
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