Russia Supports Annan’s Mission, Rejects Military Interference

Local Editor

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hoped the Western countries do not thwart the mission of the UN envoy to Syria Kofi Annan, and that his mission receives the support of all the UN Security Council members.
 
"We are expecting all members of the Security Council support Annan's mission," Lavrov stressed calling "members, other than Russia and China, to do their job and demand that the opposition not provoke an escalation of the situation."
In a in a joint press conference with his Serbian counterpart, the top of Moscow's diplomacy urged "all sides to cooperate fully with Annan and respond constructively to his proposals."
 
He added that "it is not only that Russia and China must send the leadership in Syria signals to fully cooperate with the UN envoy's mission."
Lavrov wondered at the stance of the opposition and "Istanbul Council" that declared the failure of Annan's mission only two days after his first visit to Damascus, describing such stance as "irresponsible."
"We are in permanent contact with Annan," Lavrov declared hoping that "all sides support Annan's mission as Russia has done."
 
For his part, the Russian President's Special Representative for Middle East Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, reiterated his country's firm stance towards Syria,

Affirming that "Moscow's stance is based on principled bases that are not subject to any change," he added that "Russia won't allow passing any military scenario against Syria similar to what happened in Libya and won't give legitimacy to such acts when endorsing decisions at the Security Council."

He stressed that "the Syrian people alone decide their future and determine their country's destiny," rejecting calls for foreign interference in Syria's affairs.
 
The Russian President's Special Representative said the Syrian leadership has the people's support, which is why Russia makes contact with in the first place.
Unveiling that his country "is having contacts with all the Syrian parties, including the government and the opposition," Bogdanov called "the powers that have influence on the Syrian opposition to get it to enter into national dialogue to resolve the crisis peacefully."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org