Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 5 / Trend A. Taghiyeva /
Russia does not support any of the parties in the internal conflict in Syria. Russia condemns all violations of international humanitarian law, including those committed by the regime, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram today.
"Russia from the very beginning stands for rapid cessation of the bloodshed and armed violence wherever it comes from, as well as for a peaceful settlement of the crisis by the Syrians through a broad inclusive dialogue," Lavrov said.
The minister said that many foreign players recklessly support armed opposition and even justify acts of terrorism committed by it.
As opposed to many other international and regional players, Russia supports the contacts with the Syrian government, as well as with a wide range of opposition forces, Lavrov said.
Regarding the Russian-Syrian military and technical cooperation, it was always intended to strengthen Syria's defence against a possible external threat, rather than the support for Bashar al-Assad, the Minister said.
"Currently, we are finishing fulfilling commitments related mainly with the supply of some anti-aircraft defence systems," Lavrov said. "This export of arms is defensive in nature. It does not contradict any international conventions."
The minister said that if all the countries whose representatives agreed on a balanced reasonable basis for a political settlement of Syrian crisis in Geneva on June 30, had appealed to the government and all the opposition groups, forcing them to stop the operations and start negotiating, the chances of success for the UN-Arab League envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi's mission would be much higher.
Anti-government protests have continued in Syria for a year and half.
According to UN, the total number of victims of the conflict in Syria is nearing 30,000.
More than 230,000 have become refugees with around three million in need of humanitarian assistance. The Syrian authorities say they oppose the well-armed militants.