Syria could confront Israel: Assad

Source : http://old.mehrnews.com

TEHRAN, May 8 (MNA) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad say Damascus “has the ability to confront adventurist actions by apartheid Israel.”

During his first public comment after the Zionist invasion, Assad said that Damascus “has the ability to confront venturous actions of apartheid Israel.”

Assad made these remarks after meeting with Ali Akbar Salehi, the Iranian Foreign Minister. Syrian president also said apartheid Israel is supporting the terrorists in his country.

Syrian President also thanked the rational positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Syria and believed that the terrorist groups’ actions in Syria were futile.

Assad continued: “the future belongs to the people of Syria and those who have moderate views on the political process in this country,” stressing his support for the resistance movement against the apartheid regime.

Ali Akbar expressed support of Iranian people and government for the Syrian nation, and praised their resistance against the recent attack by the Zionist regime in Syria.

Condemning the recent action of the extremist groups’ desecration of Islamic shrines and destroying mosques, Salehi said that “it is the proof of the extremism and lack of their logics, that, they proceed to do such heinous actions disregarding the beliefs of Muslims.”

l-Moallem to Lavrov: Syria Has Right as Per International Law to Respond to Israeli Aggression

Source : SANA

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al- Moalled discussed in a phone call with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Monday the volatile situation in the region following the Israeli aggression on Syria which took place on Sunday.

Minister al-Moallem pointed out that the criminal Israeli aggression on Syrian sites shows the nature of the goals that link Israel with the armed terrorist groups in Syria.

He also said that the aggression confirms Israel's involvement along with its supporters in the US and western Europe in shedding Syrian blood and preventing a cessation of violence and terrorism, all of which aims to weaken Syria and undermine its regional and international standing.

Al-Moallem stressed that Syria has the right to respond to such aggressions as per international law and the UN Charter.

For his part, Lavrov affirmed Russia's commitment to Syria's stability, voicing concern over the violation of its sovereignty and territories and warning over the increasing chances of developments that cannot be controlled in the region.

Lavrov also briefed al-Moallem on the communiqués made by Russia to halt the deterioration in the region caused by the Israeli raid on Syria, affirming that international and regional efforts are joined in preventing escalation of tension.

The two Ministers concluded their talks by agreeing to continue communiqués to deal with any potential developments.

Bogdanov Discusses with Ambassador Haddad Latest Developments in Syria

MOSCOW, (SANA) - Russian President's Special Representative to the Middle East, Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov discussed with Syrian Ambassador in Russia Riyad Haddad the latest development in Syria and region.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the two sides discussed the latest developments in Syria, adding that the Russian side stressed the necessity of respecting Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The statement also stressed on finding immediate solution to the crisis in Syria on base of the national dialogue among the Syrian themselves.

Lavrov Discusses with Brahimi Activating International Mediation to Solve Crisis in Syria

MOSCOW, (SANA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed with the UN envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi.

In a phone call the activation of the international mediation to solve the crisis in Syria.

A statement by the Russia Foreign Ministry said that during the phone call the two sides discussed the issue of activate the international mediation, including the working mechanism of the united nations to solve the crisis in Syria through the implementation of Geneva statement by all sides.

B. Mousa / F. L./ H. Sabbagh

Fiercest clashes yet reported at the Lebanese-Syrian border crossings

Source : LBCI News

Syrian President Bashar Assad "is not bluffing" about his determination to stay in power, Russia's foreign minister said in comments broadcast Friday, as negotiations to free 21 U.N. peacekeepers held by Syrian rebels dragged into a third day.

This as a convoy of U.N. vehicles sent to pick up 21 peacekeepers held by Syrian rebels in the southern village of Jamla arrived at a neighboring village but is not able to reach their location due to shelling in the area, a rebel spokesman said.

Abu Essam Taseel said three Syrian army tanks and two military cars had pulled back from around Jamla but President Bashar al-Assad's forces were still deployed around it and bombarding the region.

The spokesman for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, Raul Hernandez, said the rebels had been expected to free the peacekeepers early Friday.

Syrian rebels added that no talks were underway to free the men and gave no indication that they would be released soon.

"To our family, we hope to see you soon and we are OK here," said a peacekeeper shown in one video. He was one of three troops dressed in camouflage and blue bullet-proof vests emblazoned with the words U.N. and Philippines.

However, a rebel spokesman seemed to suggest the hostages were also serving as human shields. If the U.N. troops are released and leave the area, the regime could kill "as many as 1,000 people," said the spokesman, who spoke via Skype and did not give his name for fear of reprisals.

Syrian newspaper accuses Qatar and Israel of ordering peacekeepers' abduction

On another note, the Syrian Daily Tishreen considered on Friday that abductors of the peacekeepers received orders from Qatar and Israel to carry out the kidnapping.

The Daily added that the armed group is backed by Western and Arab states which are encouraging the bloodshed in Syria.

On the Ground

Fierce clashes were not only limited to Syria's south but were also reported on the Lebanese-Syrian border crossings.

Meanwhile in Homs, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Assad's forces have bombarded opposition-held neighborhoods.

This as, opposition rebels clashed with the Syrian army and controlled parts of Aleppo city near Al Oumawi mosque.

The Syrian army retaliated by bombarding the Al Atareb, Al Bab and Andan regions on Thursday overnight.

Kerry, Lavrov Tackle Syria, Adoptions in ‘Constructive’ Talks

Source : RIA Novosti

BERLIN, February 26 (RIA Novosti) – The United States and Russia will do “everything possible” to facilitate a dialogue between the Syrian government and the armed opposition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday in Berlin following his first bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

“No one will solve the Syrians’ problems for them, but in order for this solution to be discussed, it’s necessary to sit down at the negotiating table,” Lavrov said following the nearly two-hour meeting with Kerry in the German capital.

US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland speaking in Berlin, said Kerry and Lavrov spent more than half of their meeting discussing Syria in what she called a "really serious and hardworking session,” The Associated Press reported.

The two top diplomats discussed how to implement the so-called “Geneva Agreement” aimed at getting the Syrian government and the opposition to plan a transitional government for the time after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad steps down, the AP reported.

“Regarding Syria, the most important thing is that we confirmed our mutual understanding that the continuation of violence is unacceptable,” Lavrov said.

Lavrov called Tuesday’s bilateral talks “constructive” and said he felt Kerry is open to a partnership between the two countries despite disagreements.

“There is a sense that Barack Obama’s second administration, with regards to foreign policy led by John Kerry, will strive to play a more constructive role” in issues such as the adoption of Russia children by Americans and the so-called “Magnitsky Act” that Washington enacted to punish Russian officials it deems guilty of rights abuses, Lavrov said.

Lavrov said Kerry vowed to personally take measures to ensure transparency with regards to Russian children adopted by US parents.

“We discussed in detail the problems with adopted Russian children,” Lavrov said following the meeting. “John Kerry admitted that these problems are not trumped-up … and gave assurance that he will personally undertake all necessary measures to ensure complete transparency and accountability for us in this sphere.”

The issue of safety of Russian adoptees in the United States has helped bring bilateral ties between the two countries to one of their lowest points since the end of the Cold War.

Citing numerous abuse cases and fatalities involving adopted Russian children in the United States, Moscow last month banned US citizens from adopting Russian children in what some see as a response the Magnitsky Act, which became law in December.

Kerry, Lavrov seek common ground in Syria talks

Source : The Daily Star

BERLIN: US Secretary of State John Kerry began talks with his Russian counterpart Tuesday aimed at bridging differences over Syria after voicing confidence the two could find "common ground".

Shaking hands at the start of the meeting in Berlin, Kerry commented he was "happy to see" Sergei Lavrov since "we know each other" while the Russian minister quipped he would sit down when journalists allowed him to get to his chair.

Moscow and Washington have differences over Syria -- Russia is one of the few big powers to keep ties with the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and, with China, has vetoed UN Security Council resolutions that would have introduced sanctions against Damascus.

Hours ahead of his talks with Kerry, Lavrov had slammed "extremists" within the Syrian opposition who he said were blocking the start of dialogue in the war-torn country by making unrealistic demands.

He said that recent faint hopes that dialogue was possible between the opposition and the Assad regime had dissipated.

"It seems that extremists who bet on an armed solution to the Syrian problem have prevailed in the ranks of the opposition at this time, including the so-called (Syrian) National Coalition, blocking all initiatives that could lead to the start of dialogue," Lavrov told reporters in Moscow.

Lavrov said there was "an increasing understanding of the need to influence both the government and especially the opposition in order to persuade them against putting forward unrealistic demands as the prerequisite conditions for the start of dialogue".

"During our latest phone contact it seemed to me that he (John Kerry) understands the acuteness of the situation," he added.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem had said in Moscow Monday that the authorities in Damascus were ready to talk to armed rebels, the first time a senior official of the Assad regime had made such a proposal.

But the rebel Free Syrian Army's chief of staff Selim Idriss said that before any dialogue could begin, Assad's regime must fall, among other pre-conditions.

"I am not going to sit down with him or with any other member of his clique before all the killing stops, or before the army withdraws from the cities," he told pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Arabiya.

Kerry, on an 11-day tour of Europe and the Middle East, his first foreign trip since taking over the office, earlier told an event in Berlin with German youngsters that he and Lavrov had a "good relationship".

"I am confident we will find common ground," he said.

Washington has recently toned down its criticism of Moscow's intransigence over Syria.

"We've been absolutely clear that there needs to be a political transition, and we felt that Russia could play a key role in convincing the regime... that there needs to be that political transition," a State Department official told reporters.

However the talks are not expected to produce a "big breakthrough", the official added.

-- 'Decision on next steps' in Rome --

As diplomatic efforts intensified, fierce clashes erupted Tuesday around the historic Umayyad Mosque in Syria's second city Aleppo, as rebels battled troops on the grounds of a police academy elsewhere in the province, a watchdog said.

And a record 150,000 people this month fled the worsening conflict, according to the top UN political official.

Syria's opposition has been calling for the international community to do more -- the United Nations says the fighting has claimed 70,000 lives since the conflict began in March 2011 -- and warned last week it would withdraw from an international conference in Rome planned for Thursday.

But Kerry and British Foreign Secretary William Hague convinced the opposition to revoke its boycott of the Friends of Syria conference.

Syrian National Coalition chief Ahmed Moaz al- Khatib said his group would attend after Kerry and Hague "promised specific aid to alleviate the suffering of our people".

In London, Kerry insisted he wanted the Syrian opposition to know "that we are not coming to Rome simply to talk. We are coming to Rome to make a decision on next steps."

The trip sees Kerry, the son of a diplomat, back on familiar ground. He spent part of his childhood in Berlin and has family in France.

Kerry also met German Chancellor Angela Merkel and standing next to her reminisced in a statement to reporters how he had cycled through Berlin past the then-destroyed Reichstag in his youth.