RUSSIA: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Syrian rebels were trained in Afghanistan to handle chemical weapons, urges disciplinary measures against the opponents of the Geneva II conference

Record ID: 644461

  • Title: RUSSIA: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Syrian rebels were trained in Afghanistan to handle chemical weapons, urges disciplinary measures against the opponents of the Geneva II conference
  • Date: 11th October 2013
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 11, 2013) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV AND KUWAITI FOREIGN MINISTER SHEIKH SABAH KHALED AL-SABAH ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMEN NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV SAYING: "Not long ago there were reports that third countries illegally used Afghanistan's territory which Kabul does not control to train rebels on this territory for their struggle against the Syrian regime, including skills to handle poisonous chemical substances." OFFICIALS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV SAYING: "Thorough and timely destruction of chemical weapons in Syria, the process itself which is connected with taking these weapons under control and their destruction afterwards, create perfect - perhaps as perfect as they can be in this situation - conditions to start to implement the Russian-American initiative to hold an international conference on resolving the Syrian issue." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV SAYING: "(I expect) the disciplinary measures, as they are usually called, to be taken against the opponents of the Russian-U.S. initiative so that they finally start working on the Geneva II and stop their subversive operations." CAMERAMEN (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV SAYING: "In any circumstances, the participation of Iran in the Geneva conference is a mandatory factor, same as the participation of other states that exert influence on various Syrian groups." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS OFFICIALS, JOURNALISTS FLAGS NEWS CONFERENCE ENDS
  • Embargoed: 26th October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA65BEBENKBNY37NPT7GNU1FNPH
  • Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday (October 11) blamed unnamed third parties of training Syrian rebels to use toxic chemicals against Syrian government forces.

    "Not long ago there were reports that third countries illegally used Afghanistan's territory which Kabul does not control to train rebels on this territory for their struggle against the Syrian regime , including skills to handle poisonous chemical substances," Lavrov told a news conference after talks with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah Lavrov reiterated Russian stance that the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria would create good conditions to hold international conference on Syrian regulation.

    "Thorough and timely destruction of chemical weapons in Syria, the process itself which is connected with taking these weapons under control and their destruction afterwards, create perfect - perhaps as perfect as they can be in this situation - conditions to start to implement the Russian-American initiative to hold an international conference on resolving the Syrian issue," Lavrov said.
    Russian FM also urged that disciplinary measures be brought against the opponents of holding the Geneva II peace conference for Syria.

    "(I expect) the disciplinary measures, as they are usually called, to be taken against the opponents of the Russian-U.S. initiative so that they finally start working on the Geneva II and stop their subversive operations," Lavrov said.
    He also stressed that Iran's participation in this conference was crucial.

    "In any circumstances, the participation of Iran in the Geneva conference is a mandatory factor, same as the participation of other states that exert influence on various Syrian groups," Lavrov told journalists.
    Iran rejects any conditions for taking part in a long-delayed peace conference on Syria, Iranian media reported recently, in effect dismissing a U.S. suggestion that Tehran back a call for a transitional government in Damascus.
    The United States accuses Iran of supporting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a civil war that has run for more than two years, killed more than 100,000 people and eluded all efforts at a peaceful settlement.
    U.S. and its allies suspect Iran is using its civilian nuclear programme as a cover to develop atomic weapons. Iran denies this, saying its program is for peaceful purposes.
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