Russia Says Will Send U.N. Evidence of Rebel Chem Attack
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Moscow will send the United Nations information it received from Syria implicating rebels in last month's chemical attack, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.
Lavrov's deputy said earlier he had met Syrian President Bashar Assad and received "evidence" from Damascus implicating the rebels in the August 21 gas attack, which the United States says killed 1,400 people and was perpetrated by the government.
Moscow will review the new materials and "of course, present them in the U.N. Security Council," Russian news agencies quoted Lavrov as saying.
He reaffirmed Russia's position that the chemical attack on the suburb of Ghouta was likely a "provocation" by the rebels.
Russia has "evidence that reports of using chemical weapons reflect the fact that the opposition regularly stages provocations in order to bring strikes and intervention against Syria," Lavrov was quoted as saying.
"There is a lot of (data) regarding the incidents that occurred in August in Ghouta near Damascus. We will be reviewing all of it in the Security Council."
Deputy Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia was disappointed with the U.N. report into the chemical weapons attack published this week, calling it "politicized, biased and one-sided".
Ryabkov is on a visit to Damascus for two days of talks to present the Syrian regime with the results of the agreement between Moscow and Washington reached in Geneva at the weekend to rid Syria of its chemical weapons.
The Russia-U.S. agreement is aimed at warding off the threat of U.S.-led military action as retribution for the chemical attack, which the West blames squarely on the regime.
Ryabkov said he assured the Syrian side that there was "no basis" for a U.N. Security Council resolution on the chemical weapons agreement to invoke Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter that allows the use of force and tough sanctions.
He said this could only be considered if the U.N. Security Council was able to confirm violations of the convention on chemical weapons. "This is a hypothetical situation."
"It is especially important that some kind of political interests do not again appear, especially in New York (at the U.N. Security Council)," he added.
18 September 2013, 11:34
1313
We all knew it, felt it, and questioned it. No way a democratic secular regime represented by a minority shia/Alawi president who was voted in twice by a majority Sunni population with close to 97% of popular votes can commit such a heinous crime. His forces on the ground were gaining, his air force was soaring, his allies aka HA (Hussain Army) were advancing. We, the Lebanese are happy that finally the truth is coming out for all to see. These rockets were fired from Saudi Arabia while the rebels kidnapped Alawi children and placed them in Ghouta to suffer the chemical attacks. Buthaina Shabaan was right after all. Karbalaaaaaaaaaaaaa
18 September 2013, 11:43
1512
it made no sense to let the inspectors in and use chemicals when they didnt need them. the only purpose it served was to provoke a foreign intervention. who profits from that?
18 September 2013, 15:25
87
Um, and what would have been the reaction if they didn't allow the inspectors in? Ever though of that, smart guy?
18 September 2013, 12:56
102
at this stage all Syria needs to do is prove reasonable doubt.
No need to actually PROVE that it was the rebels who were behind it, but to put forward an argument that it MAY be the rebels and necessarily Assad, that how the best law and PR firms operate.
and you know what, it will work. In this climate of over information, confused public, thats pretty much all Assad needs to do.
Same thing with the Syrian revolution, by embedding islamist elements within the revolution, he becomes the better of two evils. These very same islamist elements that he sent to lebanon in Nahr al barid.
Asads evil is too strong and cant be faced
19 September 2013, 02:27
10
Fair enough. Either Assad is not in charge behind closed doors, which I believe is the case here, or so far the chaotic and dangerous climate in the City has not allowed his regime to gather and present exculpatory evidence to those who matter and could clear him of the guilt. Whatever reasonable doubt Assad can create the success of which will depend on the strength of the evidence the other side has. Like I've said before, Obama will do anything not to engage Syria, and the same is true re. Iran. Candidate Obama's speeches made his position re. Iran very clear.
18 September 2013, 12:11
1412
I dont doubt for a second that FSA-Al Qaeda would ruthlessly gas their own people to gain an upper hand and invite military intervention; that's simply what terrorists do. If they're willing to kill 3000 innocent people on 9/11, they're equally likely to massacre more civilians.
18 September 2013, 16:18
85
So why didn't the regime give this new evidence to the UN investigation team rather than to its sponsor and patron the Russians? The Russians are not investigating, the UN is investigating.
Two observations. If the UN Report and evidence stands, then Russia is on the world stage coddling and entrenched with a war criminal. That is an untenable position for Russia, and so the "new evidence."
Second, assuming this is true, then the Syrian chemical stocks have been compromised. The Regime has lost control of its CW, which means that international forces need to enter the country to remove the weapons before the Islamists get more of it and use it.
18 September 2013, 16:30
82
Cool but it only took them a month to manufacture it. They're slipping they use to create evidence withing days.
18 September 2013, 17:46
61
actually the rebels were in front of the chemical attack but mostly it was unarmed civilian hafez's thugs and now bashar's favorite targets. On the other hand bashar's thugs were behind the chemical attack they were pressing the buttons and watching the rocket fly, some giggling was overheard.
18 September 2013, 18:29
00
Russia has to proof read the script adding the dots and commas to make sure that it is credible and can be swallowed.
18 September 2013, 18:33
63
LOL LOOOOOOL what!!! Assad and the Russian seriously are stupid....
I know you Baathists how delt in Lebanon and still do with your criminal Hizbshitan mafia first hand, most Lebanese know your lying treachery!!!
18 September 2013, 21:35
44
wow--do you have a sentence or thought in there, or is that just a ramble?
18 September 2013, 23:33
23
" received "evidence" from Damascus "
everything is said about the objectivity of the "evidence" !!! LOL easy to fabricate evidence by the accused to make themselves look innocent!
