Friends of Syria Group ‘Encourages Extremists

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, March 1 (RIA Novosti) - A resolution adopted by the Friends of Syria Group in Rome on Thursday encourages extremists there to seize power by force, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Friday.

US, EU and Arab officials who met in Rome on Thursday pledged more assistance to the Syrian opposition fighting against President Bashar al-Assad's regime, recognizing the National Coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

“There is a general understanding within the international community that there is no military solution to the Syrian crisis,” Lukashevich said in a statement posted on the ministry’s website.

“Meanwhile, judging by incoming reports, the decisions made in Rome, as well as the statements that were made there, both in letter and in spirit encourage extremists to seize power by force, regardless of the inevitable suffering of ordinary Syrians.” He did not elaborate.

The Rome statement praised the opposition National Coalition for its reform efforts, urged Assad's regime to end “indiscriminate bombardments against populated areas,” and deplored “the unabated arms supply to the regime by third countries.”

The US pledged $60 million in “non-lethal” assistance for the Syrian political opposition.

Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday the US would send the Syrian opposition an additional $60 million in non-lethal aid, but still refuses to supply the weapons and sophisticated military supplies the rebels have said they need.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday Moscow’s position on Syria stems from its concern for the Syrian people, and not the fate of President Bashar al-Assad.

The United States has called for Assad to step down, but Russia says it is concerned that the Syrian president’s forced departure would make the conflict worse.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said last Tuesday foreign military supplies to Syria’s armed opposition have been growing. He reiterated Russia’s official position that Moscow will not carry out fresh arms deliveries to the Syrian government, but is only supplying arms and military equipment under contracts signed before the civil war, which has claimed some 70,000 lives according to the latest UN estimates.

Last Monday, Lavrov denied Moscow had tried to smuggle arms components into Syria via Finland, and said there are no Russian troops in Syria apart from several dozen technical staff at the Tartus naval support facility. Russia’s state- run arms dealer Rosoboronexport said on Wednesday it is supplying air-defense missile systems and maintenance and servicing equipment to Syria, but not combat aircraft.

Syrian Opposition Leader May Visit Russia in Early March

Source :   RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, February 21 (RIA Novosti) – Syrian opposition leader Moaz al-Khatib may visit Russia in early March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

“We are currently discussing the date of al- Khatib’s visit, due approximately in early March,” Lavrov said.

Speaking after the Russian-Arab cooperation forum, the minister said that Russia has also been preparing for a visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, due in late February.

Lavrov said that Russia and the Arab Leage will seek to establish direct contacts between the Syrian opposition and Bashar al-Assad’s government.

“Today we’ve agreed to make use of Arab League potential to assist a soonest direct contact between the government and the Syrian opposition,” he said.

The Russian Foreign Minister said that so far both sides have been putting forward preconditions for talks.

“We are working to begin this dialog, and its up to the sides to discuss when and where it will be held. We will agree for any location” Lavrov said, adding that Moscow was ready to host the negotiations.

Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby urged the sides to launch a transitional period as soon as possible.

“Launching a transitional period and forming a transitional government is of utmost importance. This isn’t easy, but we’ve agreed that this is the goal we must attain,” he said.

Russia to send humanitarian aid to Syria

Source : Xinhua

MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia is preparing to send two planes with humanitarian aid to Syria, the Emergency Situations Ministry said Monday.

The planes will carry 44 tons of aid to Syria, the ministry said, and will return with any Russian citizens who wished to leave the conflict-ravaged country.

Russia last month sent two planes to return 77 of its nationals living in Syria.

The Foreign Ministry denied the operation was an evacuation, noting it was arranged at the requests of those taken back, most of whom were women and children.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the situation in Syria required no "emergency actions" from Moscow following the January operation.

Syrian Foreign Ministry Ready for Reconciliation Talks in Syria

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, February 14 (RIA Novosti) - The Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that reconciliation talks with rebel forces should be held “on the Syrian soil,” the SANA news agency reported on Thursday.

The statement came as a response to media reports that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, who is due to visit Moscow soon, may meet with an opposition delegation during his visit.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said Muallem will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during the visit.

“As far as rumors about minister Muallem’s meeting with opposition envoys in Moscow, Syria has repeatedly expressed its stance on the issue - Damascus is open for dialog with Syria’s domestic and external opposition on the Syrian soil,” the statement reads.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Wednesday that Al-Khatib, the leader of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SNCROF), will visit Moscow within the next two to three weeks and Moscow was ready to provide a venue fo a meeting between Syrian government and opposition envoys.

SNCROF was formed on November 11, 2012 in Doha, Qatar, and proclaimed itself the legitimate representative of the Syrian peop Its legitimacy has since been recognized by Western powers, but questioned by Moscow.

In December Al-Khatib rejected an invitation from Russia to discuss a peaceful resolution of the Syrian crisis. In an interview with Al Jazeera television he said he wanted an apology from Moscow for having supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad