Russian FM slams West's logic of “Syria terrorism”December 21, 2012 - 17:06 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The West's policy of dividing Syrian terrorists into "the bad" and "the not so bad" is dangerous, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday, December 20, according to RIA Novosti. “Our colleagues at the UN Security Council refuse to condemn terrorist attacks," he said in an interview with the RT television network. "They say terrorism is bad but at the same time urge us to take into account the Syrian situation and the reason people are attacking government forces,” he said. “Our Western colleagues have started dividing terrorists into 'bad' and 'acceptable.' That is very dangerous.” Western countries that want President Bashar al-Assad to go should tell him in so many words, he said, adding that some regional players have requested Moscow to ask Assad to leave in exchange for a safe haven. “My answer is very simple: Why use us as a postman: If President Assad is interested, then this [plan] should be discussed with him directly,” Lavrov said. Syria’s opposition coalition on Thursday reiterated its condemnation of the Russian government’s policy and position on political and military support for Assad’s regime but denied it has declared “open season” on Russian nationals. The conflict between government troops and opposition forces has claimed the lives of over 30,000 people since March 2011, according to UN figures. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |