MIDEAST-CRISIS/SAUDI-RUSSIA-ASSAD Saudi FM says Assad has no place in Syria future, Russia's Lavrov disagrees

Record ID: 144205

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/SAUDI-RUSSIA-ASSAD Saudi FM says Assad has no place in Syria future, Russia's Lavrov disagrees
  • Date: 11th August 2015
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (AUGUST 11, 2015) (REUTERS) SAUDI AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS ADEL AL-JUBEIR AND SERGEI LAVROV ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, ADEL AL-JUBEIR, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "We have discussed the crisis in Syria. We have underlined the importance of resolving the Syrian crisis by political means. (PAUSING FOR TRANSLATION) We have also underlined that the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Syria has not changed (PAUSING FOR TRANSLATION) and it is based on the provisions of the first Geneva communique (PAUSING FOR TRANSLATION) and that the Syrian President Assad has no place in the future of Syria, but we have underlined the necessity of retaining the state and military structures after Assad." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER, ADEL AL-JUBEIR, SAYING (ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL TRANSLATION): "We believe that the main source, the main reason behind the creation of Islamic State was the behaviour of Bashar al-Assad because he directed his weapons not against Islamic State but against his own people. That's why we do not see the place for Bashar al-Assad in the Syria future." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "We have disagreements. One of those disagreements is the fate of President Assad. Our position is that all questions of the settlement, including reaching an agreement on the transitional period parameters and political reforms, should be decided upon by the Syrians themselves." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "In any case we have agreed to continue work on practical steps which we agreed on. Those steps are aimed at preparing optimal conditions for resuming the dialogue between the government and all Syrian opposition under the auspices of the U.N. Special Envoy de Mistura." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 26th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABK2C7S7U1GRAME4LFK0WQ3BI1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST EDIT. THE FULL QUALITY EDIT WILL FOLLOW AS 2045-MIDEAST-CRISIS/SAUDI-RUSSIA
    Moscow and Riyadh continue disagreeing on the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the two countries' foreign ministers said on Tuesday (August 11) commenting on one of the most contentious points that has stalled efforts to solve the conflict.
    Russia is a key Assad ally and wants him being involved in efforts to fight Islamic State. Moscow has held multiple high-level diplomatic contacts in recent days, promoting its idea of a coalition to fight the jihadist group.
    Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told the news conference after the talks in Moscow that Assad was part of the problem, not the solution, and had no place in Syria's future.
    "We have discussed the crisis in Syria. We have underlined the importance of resolving the Syrian crisis by political means. We have also underlined that the position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Syria has not changed and it is based on the provisions of the first Geneva communique and that the Syrian President Assad has no place in the future of Syria, but we have underlined the necessity of retaining the state and military structures after Assad," Jubeir said.
    "We believe that the main source, the main reason behind the creation of Islamic State was the behaviour of Bashar al-Assad because he directed his weapons not against Islamic State but against his own people. That's why we do not see the place for Bashar al-Assad in the Syria future," he added.
    Speaking at the same news conference Lavrov said Russia's and Saudi Arabia's positions on Syria did not become closer.
    "We have disagreements. One of those disagreements is the fate of President Assad. Our position is that all questions of the settlement, including reaching an agreement on the transitional period parameters and political reforms, should be decided upon by the Syrians themselves."
    But Lavrov said Moscow and Riyadh continue joint diplomatic efforts to resolve Syrian crisis.
    "In any case we have agreed to continue work on practical steps which we agreed on. Those steps are aimed at preparing optimal conditions for resuming the dialogue between the government and all Syrian opposition under the auspices of the U.N. Special Envoy de Mistura."
    He also said "early details" of how to coordinate international efforts to fight Islamic States have started to emerge. Lavrov said the Russian idea boiled down to coordinating Iraqi and Syrian armies, Kurdish forces and some armed Syrian opposition groups already clashing with Islamic State on the ground.
    Speaking about bilateral relations between Russia and Saudi Arabia Jubeir also said Riyadh was interested in purchasing top-notch Russian arms, including the Iskander missiles, and hoped the two countries would soon finalize talks on an arms contract.
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