How
can Lavrov say in diplomatic language “this is a false flag”?
Hysteria
around chemical attack suits those who want military intervention in
Syria - Lavrov
Following
last week’s chemical attack, the West has engineered a media
campaign to facilitate a military incursion, says Russia’s Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov. The minister also cast doubts on the veracity
of US and European claims about the incident.
RT,
26
January, 2013
“Official
Washington, London and Paris say they have incontrovertible evidence
that the Syrian government is behind the chemical attack in Damascus,
but they have not yet presented this evidence. Yet, they keep saying
that the ‘red line’ has been crossed,” Lavrov said during an
emergency press conference in Moscow.
“Now,
we are hearing calls for a military campaign against Bashar Assad.”
Lavrov
said that the US, Britain and other countries have assembled a
“powerful force” and are “readying their ships and planes”
for a possible invasion.
The
minister said that the development set the world on a "perilous
path" and warned that “repeating the Iraqi and Lybyan
scenario” and bringing in outside forces, would be a “terrible
mistake that will lead to more blood being spilt”.
The
minister reserved particular outrage for the newly-mooted possibility
of NATO staging a strike on chemical storage facilities without a
United Nations mandate.
Asked
if Russia was going to join in the potential conflict on either side,
Lavrov said “We have no plans to go to war, but we hope that others
think of long-term interests.”
#Lavrov:We are highly concerned about #Syria,with growing hysteria and confrontation from the use of chemical weapons by #Syrian authorities
40 РЕТВИТОВ 10 ИЗБРАННЫХ
Last
Wednesday, footage began to emerge of civilians in a Damascus suburb
suffering from what appeared to be the effects of a neurotoxic gas.
Previously,
Barack Obama stated that use of chemical weapons would be a ‘red
line’ in the conflict, which would have “enormous consequences”
for the Syrian regime, though the US president appeared more cautious
about possible intervention in interviews over the past few days.
Medical
aid group, Doctors without Borders, have reported that at least 355
people have died as a result of the incident.
The
Syrian opposition, which has been involved in the 30-month conflict
with the government of Bashar Assad, said state forces had been
behind the attack. The Syrian government has denied the claims,
saying that the use of chemical weapons after repeated warnings from
the international community would be “illogical”.
In
his conference, Lavrov questioned the rebel version of events.
“There
is information that videos were posted on the internet hours before
the purported attack, and other reasons to doubt the rebel
narrative.”
“Those
involved with the incident wanted to sabotage the upcoming Geneva
peace talks. Maybe that was the motivation of those who created this
story. The opposition obviously does not want to negotiate
peacefully.”
“Those
involved with the incident wanted to sabotage the upcoming Geneva
peace talks. Maybe that was the motivation of those who created this
story. The opposition obviously does not want to negotiate
peacefully.”
Lavrov
also said that the UN expert team that is currently in Damascus,
investigating the attack, “does not have the mandate” to produce
an official ruling on who was responsible for the chemical release.
“The
experts in Syria have the mandate to determine if chemical weapons
were used, and if so, which ones, but not who unleashed this attack”
Lavrov told the gathered media.
“The
UN security council will make the final decision about the
perpetrator based on this evidence and all the analytical and factual
materials available on the internet and in other media.”
#Lavrov: There is the persistent feeling of history repeating itself. We have seen similar scenarios develop in #Iraq and #Libya
53 РЕТВИТА 7 ИЗБРАННЫХ
While
Lavrov said that he is continuing to work on the Geneva peace
conference with his US counterpart John Kerry, he stated that it was
now unlikely that the long-postponed talks would take place in
September.
He
also explained the reasons he believes the opposition has been
unwilling to participate.
“Why
go to a conference if you believe that the regime’s infrastructure
will all be destroyed anyway by allies, and then you can just march
into Damascus unopposed, and take control?”
UN
inspectors visit site of alleged Syria chemical attack despite sniper
fire
A
UN inspection team has returned to a hotel in Damascus after taking
samples from the site of Wednesday’s alleged chemical attack in an
eastern suburb, despite a sniper assault on the mission’s vehicle
RT,
26
January, 2013
Just
in the beginning of their journey, the UN team was forced to return
to the government checkpoint to replace their car, which “was
deliberately shot at multiple times by unidentified snipers in the
buffer zone area," the spokesman for the UN secretary-general,
Martin Nesirky, said.
Despite
earlier reports that the mission would be suspended, the team
continued with their investigation.
"They
visited two hospitals, they interviewed witnesses, survivors and
doctors, they also collected some samples," UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon said adding the investigation will be continued.
Inspectors were reportedly satisfied with their first day of work on
Monday.
The
United Nations assured that it was still possible for the team of
experts to gather necessary evidence despite the time elapsed since
the alleged attack.
Ban
Ki-moon added that the UN will complain to both the Syrian government
and opposition forces as a result of the attack.
"I
have instructed Angela Kane to register a strong complaint to the
Syrian government and authorities of opposition forces so that this
will never happen and the safety and security of the investigation
teams will be secured from tomorrow," he said.
By
this time, Syrian state TV had already issued a statement accusing
rebel fighters of carrying out the attack, quoting sources in the
Syrian Information Ministry. The Syrian opposition in their turn laid
the blame with the government.
Monday
morning's convoy included at least six cars and was accompanied by a
vehicle of security forces and an ambulance, Reuters reported.
On
Sunday, the Assad government had given the green light to the mission
to allow the investigators access to the suburb of Ghouta. The site
was the home "dozens" to 1,300 fatalities, according to
various sources.
Following
the attack on the mission, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated the
incident "does not inspire optimism." He remarked the
shooting took place on the territory controlled by the opposition
forces and called for a proper investigation of the alleged chemical
attack in Ghouta.
“Officially
Washington, London and Paris say they have incontrovertible evidence
that the Syrian government is behind the chemical attack in Damascus,
but they have not yet presented this evidence. Yet, they keep saying
that the ‘red line’ has been crossed,” Lavrov said during an
emergency press conference in Moscow.
Political
leaders from the countries mentioned have all released strong
condemnations over the weekend, seemingly in favor of military
intervention.
"The
Prime Minister and President Obama... have agreed that there should
be a strong response from the international community, " said UK
Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday in an interview with BBC
Radio 4's Today program. Questioned whether military intervention was
a possible route, he said "this may be the choice."
Lavrov
stated that the fallout from the alleged chemical attack is aimed at
sabotaging discussions in Geneva while the West tries to substitute
inspectors' work with their own statements.
“Those
involved with the incident wanted to sabotage the upcoming Geneva
peace talks. Maybe that was the motivation of those who created this
story. The opposition obviously does not want to negotiate
peacefully,” Lavrov commented.
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