In Moscow, Syrian Opposition Slams Russia for Aiding Violence

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Syria's main exiled opposition group on Wednesday slammed Russia for giving a green light to violence after failing to convince Moscow to drop its support for President Bashar Assad.

Syrian National Council (SNC) chief Abdel Basset Sayda met Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in rare talks at the Russian foreign ministry but could not detect any shift in the Russian policy that has angered opponents of Assad.

At the foreign ministry, Sayda diplomatically confirmed that Russia had a "different position" to the rebels' insistence that "there cannot be talk of a solution until Assad quits power".

But later he left all niceties aside to launch a full-scale attack on Russian policy which he said was responsible for allowing the escalating violence to continue through arms supplies and moral support.

"We reject the Russian policy -- however it is presented -- as this policy of supporting the regime is allowing the violence to continue," Sayda told reporters at a news conference.

"The Syrian people continue to suffer because of the position of Russia at the U.N. Security Council where Russia has used its veto" to block two resolutions against the Syrian regime, he said.

But Sayda said the situation could be transformed if Russia changed its policy as it was Damascus' only significant ally other than Iran.

"The regime feels that it has Iran and Moscow behind its back. If there was no cultural, moral or military support from Russia then the Syrian regime could not continue its policy against its own people," he said.

Russia said Wednesday it had no plans to impose an arms embargo on Syria and would fulfill a contract to deliver air defense systems, despite a pledge to ship no arms to the country under new contracts.

Sayda said: "Legal and moral responsibility must make Russia intervene and Russia must compel the regime to halt the killing of its own people," he added.

Moscow has refused to call on Assad to relinquish power, saying that Syria's political future cannot be imposed from the outside and must be decided via a dialogue involving all parties.

Lavrov at the start of the talks earlier offered no hope of a breakthrough in disagreements between Moscow and the opposition over how to end violence which the opposition says has left over 17,000 people dead.

"Sometimes your organization has questions about what we are doing and we want to clear up these questions today so that there are no doubts," Lavrov said.

He added that Russia wanted to understand in the talks if there were any "prospects" of the opposition groups uniting and joining a platform for dialogue with the Syrian government.

Alexander Filonyuk of the Russian Academy of Sciences said while the sheer fact of the meeting between the opposition and Lavrov taking place was important there was little chance of the two sides narrowing their differences.

"I think that the Syrian opposition will insist on its point of view at any cost. But Russia does not share it. And Russia has no reason to change its position either now or in the future," he told Agence France Presse.

Russia on Tuesday proposed a U.N. Security Council resolution on the crisis that would extend the U.N. mission in the country but did not contain any threat of sanctions against Syria or action against Assad, diplomats said.

In a dismissive reaction, the French foreign ministry said on Wednesday that the Russian resolution was "below the expectations of most of the international community."

Moscow's close ties with Damascus date back to its cooperation with Assad's late father Hafez Assad under the Soviet Union. Analysts say Russia is above all unwilling to lose its last strategic ally in the Middle East.

Comments 13
Missing justlebanese 11 July 2012, 14:13

seriously, were u expecting a change???ASAD is all what ois left to Russia in ME and will fight fiercly 4 him, dont aim so high, the only way is by dominating the capital

Thumb benzona 11 July 2012, 15:09

I disagree. They aren't fighting for Assad, they're 'fighting' for their prestige and strategic interests in the Mediterranean. The cold war is over for good, and what Putin and Obama are giving us is just a show... nothing else.

Thumb primesuspect 11 July 2012, 19:34

I also disagree... Impossible.

Missing hitech 11 July 2012, 15:18

Why doesn't anyone see the truth that Russia does not want Assad out. They invested billions of dollars in Syria; why would they throw it all away? This is all BS to dither and gain time.

Missing justlebanese 11 July 2012, 15:21

Dear Benzona, I meant by ASAD the bigger picture which is their influence in the region not ASAP in person and FYI the cold war never ended and will not,r u 4 serious when u say its ended :O

Default-user-icon Thanyeh Balla (Guest) 11 July 2012, 15:57

Who cares? The ASSad regime MIGHT fall in 2012. So says Dr. Kherfen Wmouderyen bin Geagea al Manfalouty.

Default-user-icon Jonah (Guest) 11 July 2012, 17:25

The Terrorists who hide behind these fake suited opposition salfists are terrorists funded by the Saudi and Qatari totalitariam regimes. These are Arab regimes which do not support democracy and preach about democracy.

Default-user-icon vee (Guest) 11 July 2012, 17:47

As the secretary of the navy stated in 1860's "thank god for the russians" International Law still has to mean something. Libya, now Syria, who will be next?

Thumb Marc 11 July 2012, 21:07

Russia is still negotiating the price with the west

Missing ingimundar 11 July 2012, 22:13

The reason this NATO mob action is demanding Assad go before any type of Syrian election is that they'd lose it. This is n ot what the shills so busy on this string like to hear. But it's the truth.

http://bit.ly/NhCj0G

Syria is being torn apart by NATO intervention!!!
It has been clear since March of 2011.

And yet 55 percent of the population of Syria supports Assad.
With huge demonstrations. Massive outpourings.
All the while the Western leadership and media continue on touting war in the name of humanitarianism.
Claiming an unpopular leader is on the verge of falling.
A leader who is more supported by his populace then the leader of the US is supported by his!
How insane is this supposed version of reality?
Where black is white/white is black and humanitarianism is a cover for mass killing?

Default-user-icon Al Fares (Guest) 12 July 2012, 02:14

If 55% of the Syrian people support Assad, how do you explain that he scores 99.98% in each election?

Default-user-icon Boghasso Ophtally (Guest) 12 July 2012, 03:59

I cannot believe this brilliant fellow was tricked into visiting the virtual country of Russia in SIMS 3 or whatever that game is!!! I do not understand who comes up with these ridiculous names for nobodies: Russia and China! Please show some respect for a gentleman of the stature of Abdel Basset Sayda (isn't al-Asser from Sayda? Does he call him father?), especially that this is no time for kidding about matters of life and death. Children!

Thumb applepie 12 July 2012, 11:42

"The people of Syria have demonstrated a hunger for freedom, and the United States has a solemn duty to support their democratic aspirations. "

Begging your pardon but your beloved United States can *&*^ *&^* *&^*&^!

It is about bloody time that you wake up and notice the United States does not give a damn about you, me or anyone unless where its interests lie.

Yesterday, your precious United States refused to label the Nigerian Boko haram group as a terrorist and they have been bombing churches for the past six months! Just wake up already!

They do not give a damn about the Syrian people and their hunger for freedom. They will only act where their own final interests are benefitted.

I cannot beieve how naive some people can be! Go on... tell me the United States cares for Lebanon and is supporting our army. The only help we ever got were a few gaz-guzzling hummers and friggin' used boots! For god's sake and for the sake of our country wake up!!!!!!!!!!!