Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met on Monday his Syrian counterpart Walid Al-Muallem in which they shared views about a possible US strike on Syria, asserting that any attack on Syria would derail the much-delayed Geneva-2 peac

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met on Monday his Syrian counterpart Walid Al-Muallem in which they shared views about a possible US strike on Syria, asserting that any attack on Syria would derail the much-delayed Geneva-2 peace talks.

Both ministers admitted that any chance of getting both sides to the table is very welcome and much needed.

Lavrov said Russia shall continue working to prevent any intervention from taking place, adding that if the US is as concerned as it claims about the issue of chemical weapons use, “that issue can be solved.” 

“The possibility for a political solution remains,” Lavrov said, emphasizing that his Syrian counterpart has assured him at the talks in Moscow that Damascus was still “ready for peace talks”.
  
Russia and the United States agreed in May to organize a peace conference in Geneva bringing all the sides to the negotiating table.
  
“We are truly ready to take part in the Geneva conference without preconditions,” said Muallem. “We are also ready for dialogue with all political forces who favor reestablishing peace in our country,” Muallem added. But he warned that the position would change if military strikes took place.

He also argued that the impending intervention will first and foremost affect the peaceful Syrian population. “As history shows, the first victims in any military conflict are women and children”, the FM said. 

Muallem also praised the Russian administration for its continuing efforts to "prevent an act of aggression", adding that the Syrian side "holds in high regard the unflinching position of Russia's President Vladimir Putin." 

Lavrov reaffirmed his belief that military strikes on Syria could wreck the chances of holding the peace conference. “Most specialists believe that if the strikes happen the chances of holding the conference would be undermined,” he said.

“All the more, politicians share our estimation that a military solution will lead to an outburst of terrorism both in Syria and in neighboring countries,” the Russian FM said.
  
Lavrov also warned strikes would create even more refugees and added, “Russia cannot not but be worried by the fate of Russians living in Syria whose health and life might be put at risk.” Lavrov revealed that UN-Arab League Syria envoy Lakhdar Brahimi had told him on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Saint Petersburg last week that he shared this view.

As part of their meeting, Lavrov re-iterated Moscow's full support for calls by the UN Security Council to bring chemical experts back to Syria to complete their mission.

He also emphasized that Damascus has reacted positively to Moscow’s urging for the opposition and the government to unite their efforts in expelling terrorists from Syria.

On the subject of the chemical incident, the Russian FM stressed that “there is more than enough evidence to support the claim that the rebels are behind the chemical attack.”  His counterpart, supported the view, adding that “there is the testimony of Mother Agnes – a Mother Superior at a monastery in Syria - suggesting that the whole affair with the chemical weapons was a staged frame-up operation.”

The Syrian FM went on to express his admiration with a large portion of the American public for voicing their outright disagreement with the proposed strike.