Intensive Diplomatic Visits to Russia in Attempt to Change Stance on Syria

Thursday 26 January 2012

Intensive Diplomatic Visits to Russia in Attempt to Change Stance on Syria

Britain, France and the United States are making efforts in cooperation with Qatar and Morocco, and the support of the Arab League Secretary General to release a new decision against Syria in the UN Security council.

The Security Council resolution draft states that it ” supports an Arab League facilitation to a political transition in Syria.”

In this field, Moscow has been witnessing lately a wide diplomatic movement that aim at persuading the country to change its stance on Syria.

Arab ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council are preparing to visit Russia, after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglou concluded his visit that included talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Lavrov expressed to Davutolgu his rejection to any one-sided decision against Syria in the UN Security Council.

“We are open to any constructive suggestion for a solution to the crisis in Syria… and we don’t support any suggestion that proposes taking one-sided decisions against Syria, such as the sanctions that were imposed without previous negotiations with Russia, China, and the rest of the member countries of BRICS… any decision against Syria in the international security council must not be seen as a justification to foreign intervention,” the Russian Foreign Minister said.

Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and his assistant Fred Hof also held meetings in Moscow with Russian diplomats.

According to the US embassy, the two parts agreed on moving on with their cooperation on the Syrian file.