Arab League stalls Syria peace: Russia

Russia says the Arab League’s recent decisions about Syria mean it refuses to allow “a peaceful settlement”‌ of the Syrian issue.

According to Press TV, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a media briefing on Thursday “We have learned the results of the Arab League summit in Doha with regret, I can tell you frankly.”‌

Lavrov added “We consider the main meaning of the decisions made that the Arab League has refused a peaceful settlement for Syria.”‌

On March 26, the Arab League gave Syria’s seat to its opposition bloc, known as the National Coalition, during a two-day summit held in the Qatari capital, Doha.

The League also authorized its members to send all the means of what it called self-defense, including weapons, to insurgents fighting against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Lavrov further pointed to Arab League’s recognition of the opposition coalition as the sole representative of the Syrians, saying this casts questions over the position of Lakhdar Brahimi as the joint UN-Arab League special representative for Syria.

The Russian official said “I simply cannot see how Mr. Brahimi could still be considered not only the UN mediator, but for the Arab League as well.”‌

The Russian minister further described the League’s decision to arm foreign-backed insurgents in Syria as an “encouragement”‌ of violence which would amount to a “bitter end.”‌

Source: irib.ir