Conference for peace in Syria

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, confirmed on Wednesday (8th) that in conversations with U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, they came to an agreement to organize a new international conference on the conflict in Syria. Moscow and Washington agree that the meeting will take place in May in Geneva with the participation of both parties

Moscow and Washington agree that the meeting will take place in May in Geneva with the participation of both parties to the dispute and which is based on the statement issued in this Swiss city in June 2012, said the head of Russian diplomacy.

The two powers intend to exhaust all possibilities to bring representatives to the table of the Syrian government and the opposition, a meeting that would further the conference in 2012, said Lavrov.

With respect to the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, the Foreign Minister reiterated the concern of Moscow. However, he clarified that the issue is very delicate and is recommended "to be one hundred percent sure that it is not rumors and provocations."

Recently, Lavrov said that the use of chemical arsenals is a subject too serious to be handled.

He responded well to repeated insinuations of the United States and the UK over the alleged use of these arsenals by Syrian government forces.

The diplomat noted that the accusations on this matter together with the situation in Syria is similar to the schema deployed in Iraq, using the pretext of weapons of mass destruction, to invade the Persian Gulf country and overthrow President Saddam Hussein.

He added at the press conference, there are politicians in some regions with the illusion of a change in the Russian attitude, but our position will remain the same, he said.

"We have been suggesting, since the beginning of the conflict, which requires all international actors with influence on the warring parties to end the violence and start negotiations without prior conditions," he pointed out.

Kerry, meanwhile, acknowledged yesterday during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, the need to put an end to extremism in Syria and achieve stability in the region.

Such a statement of the head of the State Department confirms the possible intention of Washington to seek a rapprochement with Moscow before the meeting that Putin and Obama will hold in June in Northern Ireland, parallel to the summit of the G-8.

However, he informed the press that the visit of the head of American diplomacy responded to points of disagreement between Moscow and Washington in relation to Syria, such as the White House support to Israel in its aggression against Damascus.

It was nor told if the talks addressed the cornerstone of the contradictions between Russia and the U.S.:  the Pentagon's missile defense and NATO forces in Europe.

The Kremlin has demanded, unsuccessfully, enforceable legal guarantees by the United States that this strategic project is not aimed against Moscow.

Source: Prensa Latina


Translated from the Portuguese version by:

Lisa Karpova
Pravda.Ru