Putin: Al-Assad Confronting Foreign Militants, 600 Foreigners Fighting alongside Rebels

Local Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed Friday that President Bashar al-Assad is in confrontation with gunmen who were trained abroad, not with the Syrian people.

During a joint press conference with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Putin said that the international community and the US recognized Jabhat al-Nusra, which is key part of the armed opposition, as a terrorist organization.
''Of concern to us is the possibility of political vacuum if decisions are taken to replace the incumbent Syrian government...If al-Assad goes, a political vacuum will emerge...who will fill that vacuum?"

Putin said that ''During the G8 summit, everybody agreed to convince the parties to the conflict in Syria to sit to the negotiating table in the upcoming international conference in Geneva to find the appropriate solutions for Syria's future as to realize the Syrians' aspirations.''
''We should not impose a solution on the Syrian people, but have to create an environment conducive to dialogue,'' Putin added.

Putin urged a stop to committing mistakes and unjustified measures in the Middle East, calling for vigilance and valuing the desires and will of the region's people.
''We have to closely monitor the developments over the past years to realize that the region might spiral out of the international community's control,'' he added.
In parallel, Putin called for not playing down the issue of sending weapons to Syria, stressing that ''Russia exports weapons to the legitimate government in Syria according to international agreements and laws.''

Putin said that arming and financing the 'Syrian opposition' has been on for a long time, adding ''what is going on in Syria wouldn't have been possible without sending weapons to the opposition.''
He further revealed that at least 600 Russians and Europeans are fighting alongside the armed groups, adding that it remains unclear where these arms will end up.
"If the United States ... recognizes one of the key Syrian opposition organizations, al-Nusra, as terrorist ... how can one deliver arms to those opposition members? Putin said.

"Where will (those weapons) end up? What role will they play?"
Putin said that Western countries cannot clarify the goal of arming the Syrian opposition without knowing its composition.

He pointed out a disagreement between Moscow and Washington on the issue, adding that only the Syrian people can ensure a solution to the crisis and the international community can prepare the ground for an agreement.

Putin also warned against misconstruing differences in positions regarding Syria in the international community in a simplified manner and against portraying them as mere contradictions between the US and Russia.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team