RUSSIA: Syria's ambassador to Russia says President Assad's resignation cannot be a pre-condition for talks to end violence

Record ID: 280417

  • Title: RUSSIA: Syria's ambassador to Russia says President Assad's resignation cannot be a pre-condition for talks to end violence
  • Date: 13th March 2012
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 12, 2012) (REUTERS) SYRIA'S AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA RIAD HADDAD TAKING HIS SEAT AT NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMEN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIA'S AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA RIAD HADDAD, SAYING: "As for the meeting of Mr Lavrov in Cairo on March 10 (with Arab League foreign ministers), those five principles that were agreed with the Arab states, we agree with those
  • Embargoed: 28th March 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVACDF5LSVMPYBU3EE55BC62E90W
  • Story Text: Syria agrees on the need to end violence but the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad cannot be a condition for starting dialogue, Syria's ambassador to Russia, Riad Haddad told a news conference in Moscow on Monday (March 12).
    The United Nations estimates that Syrian security forces have killed well over 7,500 people in a conflict that began as a mainly peaceful protest movement a year ago and now appears to be sliding into civil war.
    Syria said in December that "terrorists" had killed more than 2,000 soldiers and police.
    Haddad indicated that U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's discussions with Assad at the weekend had not included a proposal that Assad step down.
    He said the discussion between Assad and Annan had echoed the 'five principles' for a Syrian settlement agreed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo on Saturday (March 10).
    "As for the meeting of Mr Lavrov in Cairo on March 10 (with Arab League foreign ministers), those five principles that were agreed with the Arab states, we agree with those five principles," Haddad told a news conference.
    Russia and the Arab ministers said they agreed on five points in Cairo, namely the need to end violence "from any source", the need for unbiased monitoring, opposition to foreign intervention, delivering humanitarian aid and supporting U.N.-Arab League envoy Annan.
    Haddad said Annan left Syria speaking of the need to stop the violence, provide for humanitarian aid and foster dialogue in Syria.
    Syria agrees, Haddad said, but he emphasized that armed government opponents must also stop violence.
    Haddad also lauded Russia for supporting Syria's position that a political dialogue must not be subject to preconditions such as Assad's exit.
    "When they say they will have a dialogue only after the President (Assad) resigns this is a preliminary condition and an interference in our sovereign affairs," the envoy said.
    He also criticised the stance on Syria from several Arab states he did not name.
    "Some Arab states didn't like the report of the Arab League observers precisely because this report has stated two main points. First being that Syria indeed co-operated with the observer mission. And second being that there are terrorist militant groups operating in Syria," Haddad said.
    Haddad also mentioned that Damascus is planning to respond in kind to countries that have recalled their ambassadors from Syria in response to President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on a year-long uprising.
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