Russia says Syria’s Assad should stayJuly 16, 2012 - 13:44 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov labeled Western demands that Moscow should persuade Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down as ‘unrealistic’, RIA Novosti reports. “We have been hearing statements that a key to the Syrian settlement is in Moscow,” he told a news conference in Moscow on Monday, July 16. “But they [the West] tell us that we should make Assad step down but it’s not realistic. He will not leave - not because we support him but because a very significant part of the country’s population doesn’t want him to go,” Lavrov said. Lavrov also emphasized that the conflict in Syria “is gaining a religious dimension” and al Qaeda forces are making roots in the country. “We are very concerned over the situation in Syria which is getting more and more complicated, and the conflict is gaining an inter-confessional dimension,” he said. Besides, Lavrov said, Russia would accept a technical extension of the UN observer mission in Syria. “We are prepared to accept a so-called technical extension - a resolution that will not contain any substantive evaluations,” he said. Two draft Syria resolutions are pending at the UN Security Council - one sponsored by Russia, calling for the extension of the observer mission to establish dialog between the authorities and the opposition, and the other proposed by Britain, which contains the threat of sanctions to end violence. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |