Russia's Syria policies were "well-judged and reasonable" - President Putin
MOSCOW. Dec 12 (Interfax) - Russia's steps intended to help settle the Syrian conflict have been "well-judged and reasonable", and the latest developments surrounding Syria confirm the possibility of resolving any international problems peacefully, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual address to the Federal Assembly on Thursday.
"In my opinion, it is our shared success that the choice was made on the basis of the fundamental principles of international law, common sense and the logic of peace. At least thus far we have managed to avoid foreign military intervention in Syrian affairs and the spread of the conflict beyond the region," Putin said.
Russia "made quite a significant contribution to this process," the president said.
"Our actions have been resolute, well-judged and reasonable. Not a single time have we put either our own interests and security or global security in danger. In my opinion, this is the way a mature and responsible power should act," Putin said.
"As a result, we and our partners managed to turn the situation there away from war and toward the development of a nationwide Syrian political process and the achievement of civil reconciliation," the president said.
"The Syrian precedent reaffirmed the UN's central role in global politics. As the situation around Syria and around Iran today has shown, any international problem can and should be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, without resorting to military actions, which have no prospects, but only serve to cause denunciation by the majority of countries in the world," Putin said.