RUSSIA: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says those who want Syrian President Assad to leave should discuss it directly with him

Record ID: 860793

  • Title: RUSSIA: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says those who want Syrian President Assad to leave should discuss it directly with him
  • Date: 21st December 2012
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC NEAR KREMLIN
  • Embargoed: 5th January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5A9ECKZX497YYS1DOPQJ0ADI7
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday (December 21) that his country will not be an intermediary between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and those who want him to leave and seek safe haven abroad.
    "We are not in the business of regime change. And some of the regional players were suggesting to us, 'why don't you tell President Assad to leave, we will arrange for some safe haven for him'. My answer is very simple: if indeed those who suggested this to us have this in mind, they should take it directly to President Assad. Why should they use us as postmen? If President Assad is interested, this must be discussed directly with him," Lavrov said in an interview for Russia's state-sponsored RT television channel to be aired on Monday (December 24).
    The comment, aired by RT on Friday as a teaser for the interview, comes on the day when Russian President Vladimir Putin holds his first talks with European Union leaders since his re-election as president, with the issue of Syria bound to raise dispute.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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