RUSSIA: Russia says it doesn't accept any attempts to neglect the international peace envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan and urges to follow the U.N. Security Council resolutions on the Syrian conflict

Record ID: 280925

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russia says it doesn't accept any attempts to neglect the international peace envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan and urges to follow the U.N. Security Council resolutions on the Syrian conflict
  • Date: 8th June 2012
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JUNE 7, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY EXTERIOR RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ALEXANDER LUKASHEVICH ENTERING BRIEFING FOREIGN MINISTRY SYMBOL ON WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN ALEXANDER LUKASHEVICH, SAYING: "We do not accept any speculation attempts on (international envoy) Kofi Annan's plan bein
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVACJ3RUX4KPYMSYD2WW8CMUF4ZR
  • Story Text: Russia confirmed on Thursday (June 7) that it strongly supports international envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan to end violence in Syria, backed by the U.N. Security Council, and denied any speculation that the Council's resolutions are no longer mandatory.
    "We do not accept any speculation attempts on (international envoy) Kofi Annan's plan being dead, or that it doesn't exist any more and there is no need to implement it and that the U.N. Security Council resolutions shouldn't be fulfilled either. These attempts are unacceptable. We still think that the main task of the whole world community is to implement the Kofi Annan plan which was adopted by the decisions of the U.N. Security Council," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told journalists.
    Street protests against President Bashar al-Assad that began 15 months ago have evolved largely into armed insurgency as he stepped up efforts to crush dissent by military might. Two reported massacres of civilians by pro-Assad forces since May 25 have heightened Western calls for Assad to make way for a democratic transition.
    Moscow has used its U.N. Security Council veto and other tools to protect Assad, who has given Russia a firm foothold in the Middle East and is a client for Russian weapons. The Kremlin position has shielded him from condemnation by the council and parried Western and Arab efforts to push him from power.
    U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Western and Arab nations meeting in Istanbul on Wednesday (June 6) that a transition strategy in Syria must include Assad's full transfer of power, a senior State Department official said.
    Increasing pressure on Russia, Clinton was sending a senior State Department official who works on Syria, Fred Hof, to Moscow.
    Hof was to meet Russian Foreign Ministry officials on Friday (June 8), Lukashevich said.
    "We are holding a very active dialogue with the (U.S.) administration on Syria and tomorrow consultations will be held in the (Russian) Foreign Ministry with the special coordinator of the U.S. State Department who works on Syrian matters, Mr. (Fred) Hof. We will probably be able to tell you something on the results of this dialogue, " Lukashevich said.
    Hof has suggested Clinton was trying to lay down minimum benchmarks for how a Syrian transition could unfold in hopes Russia might back it despite past support for Assad.
    "Of course, the Foreign Minister (of Russia Sergei Lavrov) is in constant contact not only with the special envoy Kofi Annan but also with (U.S.Secretry of State) Hillary Clinton. Recently contact through the telephone has become very frequent, especially on Syria, and this is a normal process in terms of looking for the optimal options for strengthening the international coalition in support of Kofi Annan's plan," Lukashevich added.
    He avoided a direct answer when asked whether Russia had offered Assad asylum.
    Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials maintain that Moscow is not out to protect Assad and is open to his exit from power if this arises from a Syrian political dialogue without foreign interference.
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