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MOSCOW SLAMS ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE UN ENVOY'S PLAN FOR SYRIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 18, 2012 - 21:51 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - UN envoy Kofi Annan's plan for Syria is in jeopardy
over attempts by certain forces to create a spiral of violence in
the country, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday,
May 18, according to RIA Novosti.
"Certain elements in Syria are trying to wreck the implementation
of Kofi Annan's plan to restart the spiral of violence," Alexander
Lukashevich said.
Moscow is concerned about Burhan Ghalioun, the chairman of the Syrian
opposition Transitional National Council, calling on some nations to
arm the Free Syrian Army opposition group, Lukashevich said.
"We are puzzled by the statement that the recently reelected leader
of the Transitional National Council, Mr. Ghalioun, made under a new
strategy to establish the National Council's political control over
Syrian rebels in a bid to topple Bashar al-Assad," Lukashevich said.
Lukashevich said Ghalioun, a French Syrian political scientist, had
openly supported efforts to supply arms to the Free Syrian Army and
made it clear that the political opposition planned to "arrange it
with some countries to provide weapons to the Free Syrian Army as
they had promised."
Russia and China have vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions over
what they called a pro-rebel bias since the start of the uprising
against President Bashar al-Assad, but have given their full backing
to the peace plan proposed by the UN and Arab League envoy to Syria,
Kofi Annan.
Russia does not rule out that the number of UN observers in Syria
may be increased if necessary, Lukashevich said.
Over 200 UN observers have been deployed in Syria to monitor the
ceasefire between the government and armed rebels.
"It is possible that at a certain stage a discussion could arise
about the need to expand this mission," Lukashevich said.
"In principle, it is a prerogative of the UN Security Council to
make a decision to strengthen the material and human potential of
its representatives in Syria," he said.
Lukashevich said he was not aware of any requests from UN observers
in Syria to equip them with weapons.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday the number of
terrorist attacks in Syria has increased since UN observers arrived
in the country.
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 18, 2012 - 21:51 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - UN envoy Kofi Annan's plan for Syria is in jeopardy
over attempts by certain forces to create a spiral of violence in
the country, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday,
May 18, according to RIA Novosti.
"Certain elements in Syria are trying to wreck the implementation
of Kofi Annan's plan to restart the spiral of violence," Alexander
Lukashevich said.
Moscow is concerned about Burhan Ghalioun, the chairman of the Syrian
opposition Transitional National Council, calling on some nations to
arm the Free Syrian Army opposition group, Lukashevich said.
"We are puzzled by the statement that the recently reelected leader
of the Transitional National Council, Mr. Ghalioun, made under a new
strategy to establish the National Council's political control over
Syrian rebels in a bid to topple Bashar al-Assad," Lukashevich said.
Lukashevich said Ghalioun, a French Syrian political scientist, had
openly supported efforts to supply arms to the Free Syrian Army and
made it clear that the political opposition planned to "arrange it
with some countries to provide weapons to the Free Syrian Army as
they had promised."
Russia and China have vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions over
what they called a pro-rebel bias since the start of the uprising
against President Bashar al-Assad, but have given their full backing
to the peace plan proposed by the UN and Arab League envoy to Syria,
Kofi Annan.
Russia does not rule out that the number of UN observers in Syria
may be increased if necessary, Lukashevich said.
Over 200 UN observers have been deployed in Syria to monitor the
ceasefire between the government and armed rebels.
"It is possible that at a certain stage a discussion could arise
about the need to expand this mission," Lukashevich said.
"In principle, it is a prerogative of the UN Security Council to
make a decision to strengthen the material and human potential of
its representatives in Syria," he said.
Lukashevich said he was not aware of any requests from UN observers
in Syria to equip them with weapons.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday the number of
terrorist attacks in Syria has increased since UN observers arrived
in the country.