Russia Rejects U.S. Charge of 'Enabling' Assad's Regime
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Russia on Monday dismissed U.S. claims that it was "enabling" Syria's President Bashar Assad to stay in power and failing to push for a transitional government that could help end the bloody conflict.
"We have done everything we have promised," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters, referring to Moscow's efforts to get the Damascus regime to hold direct peace talks with opponents.
"First of all, we are working with the Syrian authorities on a daily basis, and second of all, statistics clearly show that the main problems are created not by the regime but by the terrorist and extremist groups that have spread across Syria and that do not answer to any political structure."
Syria's civil war has killed more than 140,000 people in nearly three years of fighting.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry accused Russia on Monday of not doing enough to make sure the Syrian regime remained committed to the so-called Geneva II peace process that broke up in acrimony on Saturday without an agreement on further talks.
Kerry said Russia "has stood up publicly with me on several occasions and said they're committed to that transition government... yet we have not seen the kind of effort to create the dynamic by which that can be achieved".
Lavrov for his part noted that the Syrian opposition delegation at the Geneva negotiations was not represented by some of the most important members of the National Coalition umbrella group.
"They (Washington) assured us that they will be doing everything possible to ensure there is a truly representative opposition delegation," Russia's top diplomat said.
"For now, they have been having trouble doing this."
Lavrov added that Russia was looking into reports about some foreign opposition backers working on the creation of a new Syrian opposition organisation that favored the military overthrow of Assad instead of further talks.
"They want this new group to replace the National Coalition," said Lavrov, without specifying which countries were involved or where the information had come from.
17 February 2014, 07:20
84
Kerry and the USA lost credibility long time ago. Their recent outcry regarding the Ukranian situation, inciting the opposition, funding them, denouncing human rights violations in Ukraine, etc etc. while they watch the Syrian people get butchered by the Assad regime.
17 February 2014, 10:19
47
The USA is behind the trouble in the Ukraine as it is in Syria ... Now they condone portable surface to air missiles and anti-tank weaponry that are a direct threat to Lebanon's armored vehicles.
17 February 2014, 19:05
51
Russia Rejects U.S. Charge of 'Enabling' Assad's Regime. Russia protested strongly stating "It is Iran."
17 February 2014, 20:27
00
"Kerry and the USA has lost credibility...". Well let that provide you with a glimpse of light. Ya Saha el noumm. This Syrian situation wasn't born during Obama Administration (whether you are support Russia, U.S.A. or neither is not the issue). Really the USA? Don't you know you by now people like Kerry and Obama come and go every four years through elections? People in the U.S. are sick and tired dealing with the Middle challenges that had existed even before the U.S. even came to power. No problems, let Russia and Iran, and, may be now China, try to solve your problems. Or May be, you do it on your own.
17 February 2014, 09:09
103
You are right- if Cheney had been in control Iran would have been flattened and Assad would be gone by now. Obama is not a strong President.
17 February 2014, 09:51
19
the realty boys is that the us talks to its allies like puppets and not as sovereign states. they exercise pressure on their allies whereas Russia respects the in independancy of countries. look at Mubarak the american puppet , it took 2 weeks to take him out because when the us decided to throw him like a dog then he was out whereas Assad instill in power because he's not the "developed" countries puppet .
17 February 2014, 12:02
28
i posted a comment that is very polite and u guys didn't put it. shame on al nahr and its owners . u are bias assholes with attitudes. your owners the tuenis are known to be on payrolls of people from the date this newspaper was established.
17 February 2014, 12:47
81
Syria is on the loose, they are out of control and truth be told, not even Russia can keep this rabid dog on the lead.
17 February 2014, 14:38
57
Syrian people and it's government are winning this conflict, look at the situation, the salafis are the ones 'butchering' each other, they can't hold their ground in Aleppo the Syrian army are advancing everywhere on the ground, Yabroud the last takfiri stronghold is completely surrounded.
Turkey is beginning to loose faith in their beloved opposition, Russia & Iran has pressured the Turks alot these days, Erdogan hoped for a quick victory after a few months, but it has been 3 years now with no results. To the M14 and other takfiri supporters, your plans didn't work out, you have lost this conflict that you started. Now let Syria heal and reform and stop spreading more hatred that only suffers the syrian people further.
17 February 2014, 19:49
60
You have a lot to learn about international politics. The Assad govt will not be allowed to "win" without Assad offering some concessions. This will keep on going back and forth until an agreement that pleases the west and the east(Russia and Iran) is developed. If you think this is over with the maintaining of the status quo then you are watching a Disney movie. Not real life.
17 February 2014, 20:13
15
Dear arzak, if you read the news further about the Syrian conflict. You would realize that it is true what i am saying. The west raised the white flag as soon as they pulled their warships back.
Now the west still wants Assad to leave his post, so they said 3 years ago aswell.
He has not done so, and the west are beginning to loose hope, the opposition is weak, and their commander Salim Idriss has been fired. Al Qaeda are battling each other on every major front.
The west realizes that the Syrian conflict is now unwinnable the people backs their government, and they want to go back to their old lives in harmony with the reforms promised.
17 February 2014, 21:52
60
lOL the west does not want bashar out... who will protect the israeli border? the islamists? LOL they would launch attacks on israel ... but your friend bashar? he is the best US israeli ally!!!
17 February 2014, 22:34
05
Thats what the takfiris say, yet i do not see them fire one single bullet in Israels way, but Bashar al Assads government supported Hezbollahs wars against Israel do not forget that. Now what is it the west kept saying? They wanted Dr. Assad to step down which they failed to achieve.
17 February 2014, 23:56
20
oh! then mystic and bigjohn tell us what did the assads do to liberate golan? nothing... why? because they protect it for israel...
and you mystic support this regime that is allied with israel, ironic no for a great resistant as you are!! ? LOL
17 February 2014, 14:39
47
If you really care about the Syrian people, you should tend to the 1.5 Million people on Lebanese soil that doesn't have their basic needs.
17 February 2014, 18:08
60
"the main problems are created not by the regime but by the terrorist and extremist groups that have spread across Syria and that do not answer to any political structure."
Spin it Sergei spin it but you can't escape the facts stated clearly by your own president..
Naharnet 11 June 2013
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday he had always believed that Syrian strongman Bashar Assad should have implemented political reforms that could have averted the current bloodbath.
Assad should have listened more closely to opposition demands when the conflict broke out in March 2011.
"I have said that it seemed like the country was ripe for changes and its leadership should have sensed this and begun implementing these changes," Putin said.
"This is apparent. Otherwise, everything that is happening -- it would not have happened."
17 February 2014, 18:57
70
The Syriac (Syryan) Christians also remember what happened to them and the rest of the Christians in Lebanon not that long ago.. Just saying.
17 February 2014, 19:50
61
That's right, so the Syriac (Syryan) Christians and Lebanese Christians had it coming, they deserved what happened to them. Heard it all before it's a classic.
