Lavrov: States Supporting Rebel Terrorism Responsible of Continuous Bloodshed

Local Editor

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blamed the ongoing violence in Syria on "some states, which encourage Syrian rebel terrorism and their refusal to negotiate."

Lavrov made his remarks during a UN Security Council session.
In a high-level meeting of the Security Council on Middle East security, two world powers - Russia and the United States - clashed over interpretations of the ongoing violence in Syria, and how to end the bloodshed.

"The states that encourage the opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up on the ceasefire and dialogue and to demand that the regime capitulate, bear responsibility for the continuing bloodshed," Lavrov said. "Such an approach is unrealistic and encourages terrorism, which is used by the opposition."

Lavrov reiterated Russia's longstanding position that "stable settlement of the crisis can only be achieved through negotiation and compromise, taking into account the interests of all the faiths and ethnic groups of Syrian society."
The Russian FM argued that the groundwork for a peaceful resolution should follow the Kofi Annan peace plan and the Geneva communique, and related Security Council resolutions.

"We see that the initiative put forth by Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has potential," he said.
For its part, Washington accused the UN's decision-making body of paralysis, and the Syrian leader of "murdering of his own people."
In parallel, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon said that "there is no military solution to this crisis" in Syria, and urged a political solution.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org