Moscow calls U.S. decision to coach Syrian opposition in Turkey shortsighted
MOSCOW. May 29 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called the U.S. decision to coach Syrian opposition members on the territory of Turkey shortsighted, as these people can take the side of terrorists operating in Syria at some point.
"We believe this is a shortsighted approach, at least because, and this is proven by the experience of previous years, most of the so-called moderate opposition supported with arms and money and trained by foreign instructors is either bought over or join the terrorists for ideological reasons," he said at a press conference in Moscow.
"I am afraid this is how the whole story will end," the Russian foreign minister said, while answering a question at a press conference after his negotiations with UAE counterpart
Abdallah bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan.
Although Moscow is not supporting Washington, which allows for the possibility of further support to the armed opposition in Syria, the positions of Russia and the United States are reconciling over the lack of alternatives to a political settlement in Syria based on the 2012 Geneva communique.
"Let me say this again: although we are disagreeing over this specific issue [assistance to the Syrian opposition], we will carry on dialogue with the United States, with due account of the declared wish to encourage the national inclusive dialogue between all Syrian forces," the Russian foreign minister said.
"We think it is rather important and necessary that all Syrian sides are encouraged to hold this dialogue not only by Russia and the United States but also by regional countries, among them Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates," Lavrov said.