Russian President said Russia and the United States must cooperate in a way that prevents the occurrence of civil war in Syria and does not create new problems
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia and the United States must cooperate in a way that prevents the occurrence of civil war in Syria and does not create new problems.
Medvedev told reporters after talks with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on the sidelines of the Second International Summit on Nuclear Security in Seoul on Monday, “The president of the US and I consider [Kofi Annan’s Syria mission] a positive first step towards peace and dialogue between opposing forces in Syria. We are prepared to help Annan wherever possible.”
Medvedev said the international community needs to stop taking sides if UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan’s mission is to succeed in the country.
Earlier on Sunday, the Russian President expressed hope that Annan’s mission n will be successful emphasizing that his mission could be Syria’s last chance at curtailing the violence and averting civil war.
Meeting the international envoy in Moscow, the Russian President promised Annan support on all levels, voicing hope that his mission will come out with positive results.
Annan is due in Beijing on Tuesday to brief leaders about his proposal to end the crisis in the country as China’s support is deemed crucial for Annan’s plan to move forward. Annan will mull how supportive is the Chinese stance to his plan as Beinjing opposes any foreign interference in Syria.
The Arab League’s secretary general Nabil al-Arabi said he did not expect a call for Assad's resignation to come up at the group's annual summit in Iraq later this month.
Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made extended talks in Seoul announcing their decision to back the delivery of ‘non-lethal’ aid to the Syrian militants or the so-called opposition.
Russia's foreign ministry countered immediately that such "support for one side of the conflict was unacceptable."
Obama said the United States and Turkey also agreed that "there should be a process" of transition to a "legitimate government" in Syria.
