29 Mar 2024
Wednesday 22 January 2014 - 13:26
Story Code : 79091

Internal opposition, Iran should be part of Syria dialogue - Lavrov


Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the opportunity for national dialogue should be open to all factions of Syrian society, and reiterated previous claims that Iran should play its rightful part in the Syrian dialogue.
Lavrov delivered his comments after the long-awaited international peace conference on Syria opened Wednesday in the Swiss town of Montreux.

Taking the floor from UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon, Lavrov delivered his points in rapid fire succession, noting that the historical responsibility for peace rested on the heads of everyone in attendance.

The Russian FM said it was necessary not to allow shockwaves emanating from Syria to engulf the whole of the Middle East. In an apparent slight to Western partners in attendance, Lavrov said that any attempt to impose models of governance on Middle Eastern States and North Africa wouldturn back the clock,noting one neednt look far to find examples.

Reiterating Russias long standing position, Lavrov said no solution in Syria could be found via the use of force, and it was up to the Syrian people to independently determine their own future.

Lavrov stressed that the current atmosphere of intolerance and sectarian strife is alien to Syria, saying Russia feared the mass exodus of Christians who had lived in the country for over 2,000 years. He warned of the dangerous trend ofinternal contradictionswithin Islam, saying Russia hoped the Islamic world would become united so that it could take its proper place in the polycentric world order.

He concluded his remarks by saying that there was not a 100 percent chance of success, but there is a realistic chance peace will be attained in Syria.

Lavrov yielded the floor to his US counterpart John Kerry, who said a future transitional government of Syria does not have a place for thousands of violent extremists, who are currently fighting in the country. He also alleged that the current government in Damascus attracts those extremists as a magnet, and that until a transitional government is formed, there is no hope of defeating terrorists in Syria.

Kerry highlighted a longstanding difference between Russia and the US by insisting that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must step down. Russia has long maintained it is up to the Syrian people to decide what Roll Assad will play in any future government.

Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Walid Muallem warned Wahhabi militants fighting under the cover of revolution are seeking to plunge Syria back 1,000 years in accordance to their idea of Islam. He said the radical Islamists are killing civilians, desecrating graves and bombing mosques, all while enjoying support from some of Syrias neighbors.

Muallem singled out Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, saying his government had backed the militants, only to discover that this would backfire on Turkey. He said people should remember an age-old adage, which says you shouldnt watch your neighbors house burn, because the fire will spread to your own home.

The Syrian minister was unrelenting in his criticism of the Turkey-based opposition, saying that they were staying in five-star hotels while people in Syria died and sold their support to the highest bidder. His speech, however, was interrupted by Ban, who asked him to wrap up his comments. It led to a debate between Ban and Muallem, who insisted that he needed more time to present Syrias view of the conflict.

Youve spoken for 25 minutes,he told the head of the UN.

I need at least 30,Muallem replied.

He also rebuffed Secretary Kerry, saying no one had the right towithdraw legitimacyfrom the Syrian president or government. It is the Syrian people, he said, how have the right to choose.

Following Muallem's remarks, Ban reminded other participants to refrain from making derogatory statements.

 

By Russia Today

 

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