RUSSIA: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticises U.S. recognition of Syria's opposition

Record ID: 858776

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticises U.S. recognition of Syria's opposition
  • Date: 12th December 2012
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 12, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY MANSION RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV ENTERING ROOM FOR TALKS WITH SLOVAK FOREIGN MINISTER MIROSLAV LAJCAK LAVROV SPEAKING LAJCAK SPEAKING CAMERAMAN FILMING LAVROV AND LAJCAK ENTERING ROOM FOR NEWS BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "Yes, I also find out with a certain degree of surprise that the United States, in the words of their President, recognised the (Syrian) national coalition as the only legitimate representative of the Syrian people. This contradicts the agreements reached in Geneva which suggest the start of the dialogue in Syria between the representatives appointed by the government and the ones appointed by the opposition." NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV, SAYING: "As the coalition has been recognised as the only legitimate representative, it seems that the United States decided to place all bets on the armed victory of this very national coalition." TWO OFFICIALS TALKING VARIOUS OF LAVROV AND LAJCAK SHAKING HANDS, ENDING NEWS BRIEFING, LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 27th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE3GH865OPU8FIXA9L3PUNZ9UQ
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  • Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed surprise on Wednesday (December 12) over U.S. recognition of a Syrian opposition coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people and said it contradicted efforts to seek political transition in the Middle Eastern nation.

    "Yes, I also find out with a certain degree of surprise that the United States, in the words of their President, recognised the (Syrian) national coalition as the only legitimate representative of the Syrian people. This contradicts the agreements reached in Geneva which suggest the start of the dialogue in Syria between the representatives appointed by the government and the ones appointed by the opposition," Lavrov said at a news briefing after talks with Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak in Moscow.
    Lavrov said Washington's recognition of the Syrian National Coalition suggested the United States now favour the opposition victory over the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

    "As the coalition has been recognised as the only legitimate representative, it seems that the United States decided to place all bets on the armed victory of this very national coalition," Lavrov said.
    President Barack Obama announced on U.S. television that Washington would now recognise the newly formed coalition of opposition groups as Syria's legitimate representative, which could intensify the pressure for Assad to relinquish power.
    This recognition came on the eve of the meeting of the "Friends of Syria," a loose forum of governments opposed to Assad, in the Moroccan city of Marrakech as the rebels intensify their push on Damascus and signs grow that the 20-month uprising may be nearing a tipping point.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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