Russia: West 'Not Sure' it Can Bring Syria Rebels to Peace Meet

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Russia said on Thursday the West did not want to commit to a concrete timeframe for a proposed peace conference on Syria because it was not sure the opposition would agree to attend.

In May, Russia and the United States proposed putting together a peace conference in a bid to try to find an end to the civil war in Syria but the date for the talks has repeatedly been pushed back.

At a Group of Eight summit in Northern Ireland earlier this week, the leaders adopted a noncommital statement calling for the peace conference to be held "as soon as possible."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia pushed for a concrete time frame to be spelled out in the final statement but that its Western partners refused to do so.

"Our Western partners chose not to mention concrete dates because they are not at all sure that they will be able to sell the opposition" (on the need to participate), Lavrov said.

"We offered to define such a timeframe. Let it be a month, two, three, it's not important," he said in televised remarks.

"Our Western partners asked (us) not to do it and as a result, it was written down that there's a need to convene a conference 'as soon as possible'. But we all know what such declarations are worth," he said on the sidelines of the Saint Petersburg Economic Forum.

Comments 7
Missing --karim_m1 20 June 2013, 12:45

It's hard to get terrorists with a fetish for human organs to sit at a conference roundtable. Just doesn't work.

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 20 June 2013, 16:44

Lebpatriot. While I agree there are some savages in the opposition in Syria. The other side is being just as (at least) viciouse in their beatings. Torture. Killing. Etc. sure war brings out the ugly in people. All people in Lebanon can attest to that from our war. All I'm saying is don't point out one side. Let us also not forget the "general amnesty" that released a HUGE number of those heart eaters. So who is really to blame?

Thumb ado.australia 20 June 2013, 17:45

Arzak libnan... A recent wsj article stated that western security sources (aka CIA) reported that 70% of syrians now support the government. 20% were neither each side and only 10% fully supported the rebels! This means that the real people on the ground are not so sectarian when it's their land and families being slaughtered! It's easy for foreigners to call jihad and support these salafists extremists from afar!

When the people are against the rebels than no amount of support from suadi, Qatar, turkey or other salafists preachers in the middle east is going to change the fact that they will lose mitilarily. The Syrian gov military wins are not because of 2000 Hezbollah militia, it's because the local population are against them! Unfortunately, the heart eaters are the general, local and international perception of these rebels. And it all started and being proved right with the Homs protests when they chanted "Christians to Beirut, alawites bil taboot".

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 20 June 2013, 17:59

I read that. And I can point out others that are not in the govts favor. But that is besides the point. I am talking about the treatment and torture by both sides. And I do not believe that HA was not needed. Why go and risk Lebanon if they were not needed.

Thumb ado.australia 20 June 2013, 18:26

Hezbollah was more morall than military. Untill then, only the rebels were receiving foriegn ground troop support. Nasrallah said in a speech a few months ago that it was important that those that support the Syrian gov,now prove it on the ground! They then went in after that mustache less friek from Sidon (assir) went to Quasir and took photos of himself shooting the "infidel". He then returned calling for lebanese jihad in Syria against Shiites! who destroyed and desecrated the church of st Elias in Quasir? No one but the bbc reported it!

I do not want Hezbollah in Syria! It will only encourage the war in Lebanon! But these people like assir and those in tripoli that are pushing hard for this war to come to Lebanon... How long can Hezbollah restrain their population from daily sectarian insults and attacks by these extremists without an outlet? Unfortunately this sectarian war is now beyond return and will erupt sooner or later!

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 20 June 2013, 19:53

Ado. This was played to be sectarian. And when I say this please don't automatically assume I'm a fanatical follower if a follower at all. But as much as you hate him he DID represent the moderate Sunni. My father AND uncle AND 90% of my family are full fledged fpmers. When HA and co overthrew the govt of Hariri I told them that it was a wrong and they just gave the Sunnis a reason to radicalize. And lo and behold. You cannot have Christians and Shia deciding for Sunnis just like Christians and Sunnis for Shia. Especially in Lebanon. There were of coarse other factors. Even Syria. HA supported EVERY uprising EXCEPT irans green revolution and syria's why? Don't you really find something odd in that?

Thumb arzak-ya-libnan 20 June 2013, 19:59

Look at Iran. A "moderate" won. If the council didn't pick and choose who could run I bet they would elect the pussy cat dolls as president. Iranians are not fundamentalist people I live and still travel to the uae and know many Iranians there. Iranians are a civilized educated cultured people. Nobody wants war war war anymore. They don't want to be living in poverty, which is what most Iranians live in, and sending govt money on weapons and supporting HA. And Syria and whoever. They want to live like they used to under the shah. But without the repression. We have fought long enough. Especially Lebanese.