Putin Discusses Syria with Security Council of Russian Federation

Feb 02, 2013 (original)

MOSCOW, (SANA)- Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, discussed the situation in Syria during a meeting with the permanent members at the Security Council of the Russian Federation. Dmitri Peskov, spokesman for the Russian president, said that the Putin discussed the issues listed on the international agenda, with focus on the situation in Syria. There was also a detailed exchange of views on building the Russian armed forces, the spokesman said, adding that the meeting also tackled issues related to domestic and foreign security. Gatilov: We Support Holding Geneva 2 Meeting on Syria Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Gennady Gatilov, expressed his country's support to holding a 'Geneva 2' meeting for solving the crisis in Syria to discuss specific implementation of Geneva Statement items. Quoted by Russia Today website, Gatilov indicated in his Twitter page the importance of expanding the circle of participants in the meeting by inviting other countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia. "The two countries are important in the process of finding a solution and can have positive contribution to this work," said the Russian diplomat. Gatilov earlier pointed out that "Russia is ready to hold a meeting at whatever level," reminding that the two tripartite meetings between Russian and U.S. officials and the UN Envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, suggested holding a second meeting of the action group as 'Geneva 2' meeting to discuss implementing Geneva Statement. Gatilov Denies News on Forthcoming Meeting on Syria in Munich Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Gennady Gatilov, denied reports on a four-way meeting scheduled to be held in Munich in Germany between the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and President of the so-called Doha Coalition Moaz al-Khatib. ''News on a four way meeting between Lavrov, Biden, Brahimi and al-Khatib are baseless,'' said Gatilov on his twitter account, stressing that such meeting is not on Lavrov's agenda. Media reports had circulated news on the possibility of holding such meeting during the 49th Munich Security Conference that starts on Friday afternoon and lasts till Sunday. Russian Foreign Ministry: Ford Interprets Geneva Statement According to his Wishes The Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Alexander Lukashevich, stressed that the US Ambassador Robert Ford interprets Geneva statement about finding a solution to Syrian crisis according to his own wishes, to the extent that he completely changes its meaning, adding that the Ford's statements reflected dishonest intentions in interpreting the statement. Answering journalists' questions about Ford's statements, Lukashevich said "the official circles at the Russian foreign ministry considered these statements an additional evidence that Russia's partners leave no chance to influence the Arab public opinion , particularly the Syrian opposition and their supporters for preparing  atmosphere that does not accept the political solution of the crisis in Syria as stipulated by Geneva statement." Lukashevich, hoped that Ford's statements don't reflect the US government's stances on Syria and the Middle East, saying that "We don't know by which coincidence this political declaration was published on the same day of appointing a new Secretary of State in the US administration, and we hope that to be a coincidence, not a scheduled declaration about Syria by the new US Department of State." The Russian diplomat added that no one discussed the crisis in Syria in the same way that the American ambassador did, because Geneva statement stipulated a dialogue between all parties in Syria without preconditions. Melnikov: Israeli Political Powers Arm, Fund Terrorists in Syria  First Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma, Ivan Melnikov said that the Israeli political powers back the mercenary terrorists and the extremist opposition in Syria, adding that they are providing them with arms and funds. In an interview with SANA reporter in Moscow of Friday, Melnikov said that the attack of Israeli warplanes on Syria is a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter, and a blatant aggression on a sovereign state, adding that the attack proves once again that the events in Syria are not an internal conflict but have morphed into a regional one. ''There is no doubt that Israel informed the US administration it was planning to carry out the raid on Syria, '' Melnikov said, ''and the US administration was capable of preventing the aggression but they didn't. Therefore, it is the US and its allies who are giving Israel full rein to carry out its aggressive acts.'' Melnikov said attempts to justify the Israeli air raid by claiming it targeted a military convoy are futile, as ''Israel has no right to launch an air assault on Syrian goals,'' adding he is convinced that the schemes for foreign intervention in Syria and some other Arab countries were actually put into effect, citing Libya that became a hotbed of terror. He added that the US, Israel and their allies don't want a strong Syria that is a keystone for stability in the Middle East and seeks peaceful settlement and just solutions to regional issues, that's why they are trying to fragment and weaken it. ''I attended an international conference of presidents of European parliaments in Strasburg last September in my capacity as deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma, and I put forward the Russian official stance on these events,'' Melnikov said. Melnikov said that Moscow has adopted firm stances regarding regional issues and conflicts such as the one unfolding in Syria, adding that Russia is reclaiming its former position in the international arena. Chairman of the Syrian-Russian Friendship Association, Alexander Dzasokhov told SANA reporter in Moscow that the Israeli violation of the Syrian airspace is a gross violation of the UN principles and the UN Security Council. ''The Israeli violation of the Syrian airspace has raised Russia's concerns, which in fact constitutes a clear defiance of the UN and its charter,'' Dzasokhov said. ''We are sure that the Arab peoples, politicians and leaders will revise the trajectory of events, because there is no sitting on the fence on this as the Syria issue is intertwined with the issues of the Arab world,'' Dzasokhov said. He saw that the blatant Israel violation of the Syrian airspace can be intended to deflect attention from the political program to solve the crisis proposed by President Bashar al-Assad. He wondered at some Arab countries' silence over the Israeli attack, stating that ''We haven't heard any condemnation of the aggression from Saudi Arabia, Qatar or other Arab states.'' Dzasokhov hoped that the UNSC will punish Israel for the aggression, adding ''Our reactions should not be restricted to separate incidents, but there should be intensified efforts regarding such reckless violations.''  B. Mosa/H. Said/M. Ismael

Nasrallah: Israeli Occupation Entity Benefits from Events in Syria to Wage War on Gaza

BEIRUT, (SANA) – Hizbullah Secretary-General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah said that the Israeli occupation entity is benefiting from conflicts in the region and Syria to wage its aggression on Gaza, regretting remarks made by the political leaderships in some Arab countries that the war against Gaza aimed at diverting attention away from Syria.

Nasrallah remarks came during in his speech marking Ashura.

He wondered that "does it make sense that Binyamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak wage a war against Gaza to divert attention away from Syria since their objectives are clear?"

"Today’s aggression is happening in a different context from 2008. In 2008, the Resistance axis was more capable of extending support to Gaza and the resistance there and this was the case before 2008 and after 2008. One of the supply channels to Gaza has now been suspended and that is Syria. It can no longer provide logistical support, although it can still take a political stance in support of Resistance," he added.

Secretary General of Hizbullah said that "Israel is taking advantage of the events in Syria, the reversal of priorities and the transformation of enemies into friends and friends into enemies. It considers this as a good opportunity to restore its deterrence and to strike at missile capabilities in Gaza, which Israel is aware, will be hard to replace in light of the situation in Syria."

Nasrallah said that the Israeli aggression on Gaza is an episode of the episodes of the bloody, historic and decisive confrontations between the Resistance and the Zionist enemy and those behind it that will decide the destiny of Palestine, the region and the whole nation.

He said that the “main bet” is on the will of the people in Gaza and the will of the resistance there.

Hizbullah Secretary-General condemned the Israeli aggression, urged the Arab and Muslim governments, countries and people as well as all free people in the world to support Gaza and its people and resistance.

Nasrallah called upon the Arab and Islamic countries to supply Gaza with weapons and use oil to pressure the U.S. and Europe into ending their support for Israel.

Weapons Smuggler: Turkish Weapons, Funded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Are Being Smuggled to Syria

ANKARA, (SANA) – Abu Abdo, weapons smuggler who channels weapons and money from Turkey to Syria, said that the government of Development and Justice Party (AKP) is playing the major role in facilitating weapons smuggling and opening the borders for terrorists to cross to Syria.

AFP quoted Abu Abdo as saying that "If Turkey tightens the security on the Syrian-Turkish borders, then the 'repels' will lose in ten days."

Abu Abdo added that he has information that confirms that Turkish weapons have been purchased by Saudi and Qatari money as to be smuggled to Syria.

Abu Abdo confessed to smuggling communication devices, vests, weapons and munitions to the so-called 'free army', adding that lots of goods, including food, medicine and other basic materials, are being brought to Syria from abroad because of the international sanctions imposed on the county.

M. Nassr/


original at: http://208.43.232.81/eng/337/2012/11/11/451791.htm

Lavrov: The West Is Reconsidering Its Stance towards the Syrian Opposition

Nov 08, 2012

MOSCOW, (SANA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the West is reconsidering its stances towards the Syrian opposition.

He added in an interview with the Russian RIA Novosti news agency and the newspapers of Moskovskiy, Russia in Global Affairs and Novosti, published on Thursday, that he has an impression that for the past few weeks the West's stance towards the Syrian opposition has started to change remarkably.

Lavrov attributed this change to the frustration over the failure in unifying this opposition on the one hand and the growing fears of the domination of new powers other than those on which the West was betting on the other hand.

The Russian Foreign Minister continued to say that Moscow believes that it is essential and crucial that the opposition gets unified around the Geneva Statement, pointing out that up till now attempts to unify the opposition groups have been done on the ground of working against the Syrian government, which is wrong.

Lavrov stressed that Russia is continuing its efforts in this regard, as it has been meeting representatives of the various opposition groups to enhance the idea of dialogue between them and the Syrian government.

Ryabkov : Moscow Convinced that Geneva Statement Still Vital, Countries of Influence on Syrian opposition Don't Use their Influence to Find Solution to Crisis

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Thursday said Moscow is convinced that Geneva Statement is still vital. Itar-Tass News Agency quoted Ryabkov as saying that and that countries which have influence on the Syrian opposition don't not use their influence to find solution to the crisis in Syria.

"Western players who have influence on the Syrian opposition don't not do their job well," he said, adding that this thing is likely to be intentional. He made it clear that Russia do everything to stop the violence and begin a comprehensive political process in Syria.

"We are not confident that the Syrian government's unilateral concessions will be the way to settle the situation, it is impossible for the ceasefire to be a unilateral," the Russian official said.

Ryabkov stressed that Moscow's position depends on the correct reading and unquestionable standards of the interpretation law. " However, we do not lose the hope as there are still opportunities to find a solution to the crisis in Syria,"

He said: " Talks with the Syrian opposition is continued," adding: " A number of representatives of the Syrian opposition came to Moscow to hold talks with the Russian officials and this work is continued on a daily basis as there is still a possibility that should be exploited."

Lukashevich: Moscow exerts more Efforts to stop violence in Syria
Spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich affirmed that Moscow will exert more efforts on all levels to halt violence in Syria, saying that improving the humanitarian situation in Syria would not be realized except by a political solution to the crisis.

At a press conference, Lukashevich said that the humanitarian situation in Syria is deteriorating due to the unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria by some countries.

"The true criterion to evaluate any meeting for the Syrian opposition lies in the participants' readiness to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis in the country by virtue of the Syrians only, without any foreign intervention and through dialogue." Lukashevich added.

Eleven Citizens Martyred, Tens Injured as Terrorists Blow up Booby-Trapped Car and two Explosives at al-Worod Neighborhood in Damascus

original article at: http://208.43.232.81/eng/337/2012/11/06/451106.htm

DAMASCUS, (SANA)-Terrorists blew up a booby-trapped car and two explosives at al-Worod neighborhood in Damascus, claiming the lives of 11 martyrs and injuring tens of the innocents in the area, some of them in critical condition.

A source in al-Muasaa Hospital told SANA that the hospital received 6 bodies of the martyrs and 29 others injured due to the terrorist explosions, most of them children and women. The source added that some of the injured were in critical condition and they were given the first aid.

A source in Yousef al-Azma Hospital stated it received 5 martyrs in addition to 28 persons injured, their conditions range between middle and critical. SANA reporter at the site of the explosions declared that the terrorist act led to grave damages in the houses of citizens, destruction of a number of cars, shops' facades in addition to huge damages in the infrastructure, service, telephone and electric networks.

H. Sabbagh/ Mazen

Also see: http://syria-sana-backup.blogspot.nl/2012/11/eleven-citizens-martyred-tens-injured.html

Ambassador Abu Saeed: Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey Responsible for Every Drop of Blood Spilled in Syria

 Original article at: http://208.43.232.81/eng/22/2012/11/03/450382.htm

BEIRUT, (SANA) - Ambassador of the International High Commission for Human Rights in the Middle East, member of the International Parliament for Safety and Peace, Haitham Abu Saeed (image), held the countries supporting terrorism responsible for every drop of blood spilled in Syria.

In an interview with Syrian TV on Friday, Abu Saeed pointed out to the involvement of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey in what is happening in Syria, saying "the involvement of Saudi Arabia and Qatar in what is happening in Syria is plain and clear and they declare this through the media .. we regret this and condemn it.

"We have asked them to stop this immediately, and we add our voice to the voice of Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon in demand not only from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but also from Turkey which may be involved more than others, to stop supporting militants… we hold them fully responsible yesterday, today and in the future for every drop of blood spilled in Syria."

Abu Saeed described the position of Ki-moon on the need to stop supporting armed groups in Syria as being serious, explaining that this position is based on the facts that indicate the presence of terrorist organizations in the Syrian interior which work to undermine security and the Syrian society.

He noted that the International High Commission for Human Rights demanded the cessation of arming the opposition, saying "we were optimistic regarding the need to limit arming in Syria since the beginning of the events… we have referred to these topics since the beginning and we had accurate information that we listen to through the International Investigations Office belonging to the International Parliament for Safety and Peace and the International High Commission for Human Rights, which provides us with all the security and intelligence information about topics that are assigned to it."

Abu Saeed pointed out that European sides gave documented that only five percent of the so-called armed opposition are Syrians and the rest are of multiple non-Syrian nationalities.

Abu Saeed said that the opposition exploits the massacres it commits prior to international conferences on Syria, stressing that the International High Commission for Human Rights relies in its reports on concrete evidence and objectivity, not emotions and political whims.

He explained that the opposition accuse the Syrian government of massacres, while the Commission carried out investigations, discovering that sides in the opposition benefited from these massacres and exploited them.

Abu Saeed also condemned Turkey's hijacking of the Syrian plane and later the Armenian plane, describing such acts as Mafia-like and violating international aviation laws.

He went on to stress that change in Syria cannot come through violence, but rather through ballots, noting that the international community is aware of the strength and popularity of President Bashar al-Assad and is afraid of this, as they are aware that if a democratic choice were to be made as they claim then the Syrians will choose their leadership, and more specifically they will choose President al-Assad.

Regarding the mission of UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Ibrahimi, Abu Saeed affirmed that the Commission supports Ibrahimi and is prepared to offer anything that could ensure the success of his mission.

H. Sabbagh

Putin: No-One Has the Right to Tell Russia How and to Whom it Exports Weapons if Exports Don't Contradict UN Sanctions

(original article at:  http://208.43.232.81/eng/22/2012/10/17/447743.htm )

MOSCOW, (SANA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said that no-one has the right to tell Russia how and to whom it may export weapons if the exports don't contradict UN sanctions.

In a speech on Wednesday, Putin said that Russia only signs agreements to export weapons and military equipment with legitimate authorities to boost the defensive capabilities of independent countries after careful study of the situation in the region in question, noting that not all exporters of weapons are so methodical.

Putin also said that unilateral or group sanctions outside the framework of the UN, particularly politicized sanctions, do not represent a rule for international law.

He also called for increasing the level of technical military cooperation among Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and Vietnam.

H. Sabbagh