1 Jul 2012 13:07

Lavrov: Russia is not trying to justify Syrian regime

GENEVA. July 1 (Interfax) - Russia is not trying to justify the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference following the Geneva conference on Syria.

"What was said [at the press conference] doesn't mean that we justify the current Syrian regime in any way," he said.

He stressed that the incumbent authorities always bear the main responsibility for what is happening in a country.

"However, we cannot assume the attitude that the regime is using heavy artillery and firing at unarmed civilians. That is not so. We know that it is not so," Lavrov added.