02:31Russia: US stance on Syria in direct conflict with G8 agreement - Russia
Russia: US stance on Syria in direct conflict with G8 agreement - Russia
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich read a statement on Tuesday voicing Moscow's opinion on US Secretary of State John Kerry's comments on Monday, that the US had 'undeniable evidence' proving the Syrian government used chemical weapons. Lukashevich also talked about the US decision to postpone the Geneva-2 peace preparation meetings about Syria. The discussions were meant to take place in The Hague on Wednesday but were cancelled by the US, who cited the need to review whether or not chemical weapons were used in Syria as the reason for delaying the conference preparations.
Lukashevich said: "We are convinced that, given the current dramatic situation around Syria, which is being whipped up by a number of countries, it is increasingly important that Russia and the US, as well as the entire international community, act coherently for ensuring a peaceful settlement of the crisis, which will be based on the Geneva Communiqué of June 30, 2012.
In a phone conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry on August 25, Sergey Lavrov was assured that the US was still committed to the joint Russia-US initiative to convene the Geneva II conference and would make the opposition take part in the forum. However, the US decision to postpone the Hague meeting sends an entirely different message to the opposition, encouraging it to maintain its uncompromising stance in anticipation of foreign military intervention.
John Kerry stating on August 26 that the US has 'undeniable evidence' that the Syrian authorities used chemical weapons, though no such evidence was presented, falls in line with this. This stance is in direct conflict with the agreement among the G8 leaders, who underlined in the Lough Erne Final Communique the necessity to conduct an objective investigation into reports of use of chemical weapons in Syria and deliver it to the UN Security Council for their assessment."
02:31POOL
Russia: US stance on Syria in direct conflict with G8 agreement - Russia
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich read a statement on Tuesday voicing Moscow's opinion on US Secretary of State John Kerry's comments on Monday, that the US had 'undeniable evidence' proving the Syrian government used chemical weapons. Lukashevich also talked about the US decision to postpone the Geneva-2 peace preparation meetings about Syria. The discussions were meant to take place in The Hague on Wednesday but were cancelled by the US, who cited the need to review whether or not chemical weapons were used in Syria as the reason for delaying the conference preparations.
Lukashevich said: "We are convinced that, given the current dramatic situation around Syria, which is being whipped up by a number of countries, it is increasingly important that Russia and the US, as well as the entire international community, act coherently for ensuring a peaceful settlement of the crisis, which will be based on the Geneva Communiqué of June 30, 2012.
In a phone conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry on August 25, Sergey Lavrov was assured that the US was still committed to the joint Russia-US initiative to convene the Geneva II conference and would make the opposition take part in the forum. However, the US decision to postpone the Hague meeting sends an entirely different message to the opposition, encouraging it to maintain its uncompromising stance in anticipation of foreign military intervention.
John Kerry stating on August 26 that the US has 'undeniable evidence' that the Syrian authorities used chemical weapons, though no such evidence was presented, falls in line with this. This stance is in direct conflict with the agreement among the G8 leaders, who underlined in the Lough Erne Final Communique the necessity to conduct an objective investigation into reports of use of chemical weapons in Syria and deliver it to the UN Security Council for their assessment."