Syria: Russia: US Bets on Syrian Opposition Armed Victory

Russia: US Bets on Syrian Opposition Armed Victory

Local Editor

Russia sad on Wednesday it was surprised by US recognition of Syrian opposition, stressing that such move contradicted what have been agreed upon during the international meeting in Geneva. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized US, saying that Washington was betting on a military victory of the Syrian opposition. "I was somewhat surprised to find out" that the US has recognized the so-called National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Lavrov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying. US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday, "At this point we have a well-organized-enough coalition - opposition coalition that is representative - that we can recognize them as the legitimate representative of Syrian people." The Russian FM said that the United States had "decided to place all its bets on an armed victory of the National Coalition." Lavrov also stated that the US announcement contradicts an agreement made in Geneva on June 30 that called for a resolution to the unrest in Syria "on the basis of mutual consent" among all sides in the country. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi, the secretary of state of the United States as well as the foreign ministers of Russia, China, Britain, France, Turkey, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iraq attended the Geneva meeting. The UK, France, Turkey, and the Gulf Cooperation Council have recognized militants fighting the Syrian government. http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/main.php