Russia Criticizes Syria Rebel ‘Obsession’ With Assad Exit
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said on Wednesday that the main obstacle to peace in Syria is the opposition’s “obsession with the idea of toppling the Bashar al-Assad regime.” He also said the Kremlin’s Emergency Ministry flights that removed 77 Russians from the conflict zone early Wednesday did not signal the start of an evacuation.
In an annual news conference, Mr. Lavrov made clear that Russia was unlikely to alter the position it had staked out in Syria, opposing any international measures to force Mr. Assad from power after nearly two years of violence. More than 60,000 people have died in the conflict, according to the United Nations.
Mr. Lavrov offered some insight into Russian adjustments as Mr. Assad’s military position weakens and rebels dig into the suburbs ringing Damascus, noting that Russia’s Foreign Ministry “proceeds from the notion that there should be no nonessential employees” in the Russian Embassy in the capital, and that the families of Russian diplomats were sent home “long ago, because it is not very calm to work there, and that’s correct.”
Last week, Russia announced that it was closing its consulate in Aleppo.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/world/europe/russia-criticizes-syria-rebel-obsession-with-assad-exit.html
I think Filipinos were 'obsessed' with Marcos' departure, Egyptians with Mubarak's exit, Iranian's with the Shah's exit. It funny how people look forward to the exit of dictators.
= new reply since forum marked as read
