RUSSIA: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says western nations only motivated by geopolitical self-interest when it comes to Syria

Record ID: 281556

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says western nations only motivated by geopolitical self-interest when it comes to Syria
  • Date: 1st September 2012
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SEPTEMBER 1, 2012) (REUTERS) MOSCOW INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS EXTERIOR RUSSIAN, MOSCOW, EU, UN FLAGS RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV ADDRESSING AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV SAYING: "If those who insist that the opposition continues its armed struggle until the (Damascus) government voluntarily lays
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5VHT9DCOKJ77MGENBWP7CMJ6G
  • Story Text: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticised western governments on Saturday (September 1) for pursuing their own geopolitical interests in Syria. He went on to warn against foreign interference in the violence-stricken state which he said could put pressure on its sovereignty.
    The remarks come weeks after Moscow raised concerns over the spectre of a western-led military campaign against Syria after US President Barack Obama warned President Bashar al-Assad on Aug. 20 that military intervention could be justified if Damascus used unconventional weapons or moved them in a threatening fashion.
    Russia is also opposed to the latest Turkish request to establish safe zones inside Syria which would require setting up foreign-aircraft-patrolled no-fly zones.
    Speaking at the Moscow Institute of Foreign Relations Lavrov said Russia and China believe in dialogue not military intervention and accused the west of advocating foreign intervention in Syria.
    "If those who insist that the opposition continues its armed struggle until the (Damascus) government voluntarily lays down arms and runs away, if they (West) insist on that and see that as the only solution to the problem, which they proclaim publicly and tell us during our talks, then I get a very strong feeling that they are not motivated by the interests of the Syrian people, but rather by their own geopolitical interests in this very important region," he said.
    But Lavrov also said it would be wrong to press Damascus alone to end the violence hinting that western powers should also call on rebels to back down.
    "Regardless of one's attitude to the Syrian regime, it is absolutely unrealistic to say that the unilateral capitulation of one of the parties in conflict is the only way out, in a situation when there's ongoing urban fighting," he said.
    A monitoring group said on Saturday that rebels seized an air defence facility and attacked a military airport in eastern Syria hitting back at the air force on which Assad is increasingly relying to crush his opponents.
    Syria's leader, battling a 17-month-old uprising in which 20,000 people have been killed, has lost control of rural areas in northern, eastern and southern regions and has resorted to helicopter gunships and fighter jets to subdue his foes.
    Meanwhile the aerial bombardment has driven fresh waves of refugees into neighbouring countries.
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