Sergei Lavrov

"Landep News"

Sergei Lavrov

Russia on Tuesday announced it was ready to back Kofi Annan’s peace plan for Syria, signaling that it was ready to shift to some extent its position toward its old ally as the fierce fighting erupted in the restive country, and the dealt toll raised at an alarming rate.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that his country would support Annan’s plan to reach an agreement between the government, the rebels and all opposition groups to end violence by both sides, to start negotiations, to provide humanitarian help and allow the international media. He said Russia would support a UNSC resolution inspired by these principles.
Sergei Lavrov said that the resolution that the United Nations prepare for Syria should not sound like an ultimatum to president Assad, thus setting the stage for a negotiation on the wording of the document. Russia appreciates that Annan’s plan does not demand Assad to step down like the plan of the Arab League did in February.
Russia also demanded Syria to agree to a daily pause in the fire trade so that humanitarian aid be provided to the injured. On Monday, Russian foreign minister said an “immediate” agreement on daily ceasefire for humanitarian reason was required.
The Russian stance comes at the end of a talks between Lavrov and the officials of the Red Cross, who proposed a two-hour ceasefire each day, so that the medical evacuations be made and the aid provided.
Russian foreign ministry announced that the opposition in Syria is ready for talks with the government in Moscow and that the timing for a possible negotiation in the Russian embassies in Paris or Damascus is being considered.
In an address in the Russian parliament last week, Lavrov criticized Assad for his slow pace at implementing reforms. It would appear that Russia is loosing patience with him and is ready to concur with the West to some extent in order to press him to solve the conflict.
Russia has vetoed two previous resolutions on the grounds of a wording that would allow a military intervention similar to the one against the regime of Muammar al-Qaddafi.
Russian interests in the Muslim world are at risk because of the support for Assad, who is an outcast now among the Arab nations. The ties with Syria on the long run are at risk, especially if the opposition comes to power.
If things get far worse, Russia is sure not to want the world to remember that it supported a criminal against humanity to the end. Therefore, while protecting its interests in the area, it is expected that it also protect the friendly leader in Damascus, but not to associate itself to the acts his troops are committing in the field, which look more and more like crimes against humanity.
On Monday a rare gun battle erupted in the capital of Syria, Damascus, which is a stronghold of the incumbent president. The violent clashes left many dead on both sides, the government and the Free Syrian Army.
The state media said that the fire trade erupted when the security forces stormed a hideout of the “terrorist gangs.” Activists deemed the clashes as the most violent and closest to the center of Damascus since the revolution began.
France, on Monday, rejected a proposal made by Saudi Arabia to arm the rebels in Syria, considering that the situation in this country is tense enough as it is and that any arming of the rebels would throw it into chaos and civil war.
It is exactly the same point of view the American president Barack Obama advocated, when he rejected the urge of Senator McCain to bomb the Syrian forces in support of the civilians.
About 8,000 died in Syria since the revolution began, more than a year ago, the United Nations believes. Tens of thousands have been displaced by the assaults of the Syrian army on the cities that stood up against Assad’s rule.

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