Russia: No backing for any plan that calls for Syria's Assad to step down

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov / AP

(CBS/AP) MOSCOW - Russia on Thursday said it would not endorse a call for Syrian President Bashar Assad to give up power and criticized as inappropriate claims that it had agreed to plans by international envoy Kofi Annan for a new national unity government in Syria that could include the opposition.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insisted that major powers meeting Saturday in Geneva for talks on Syria must concentrate on convincing opposition groups to soften their demands. He also denied a claim by a senior U.S. official that Annan said Russia was among the backers of a plan for a new government to oversee the drafting of a new constitution and eventual elections.

"We are not supporting and will not support any external meddling," he said. "External players must not dictate ... to Syrians, but, first of all, must commit to influencing all the sides in Syria to stop the violence."

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Diplomatic hopes have rested on Russia — Syria's most important ally, protector and supplier of arms — to agree to a plan that would end the Assad family dynasty, which has ruled Syria for more than four decades. But the country — one of the five permanent U.N. Security Council members along with Britain, China, France and the U.S. — has warned it would firmly oppose any document urging Assad to step down.

Moscow also has rejected efforts by outside forces to end the country's bloody conflict or any plan to force regime change in Damascus, insisting that any plans for the future rest entirely with Syria.

Syrian National Council spokesman George Sabra said Thursday that the SNC - the largest Syrian opposition group - "has not yet received the details of Annan's proposal about the transitional government and therefore it cannot respond to that proposal," but the SNC has flatly rejected any plan that fails to call for Assad's immediate removal from office.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, speaking at a press conference in Riga, Latvia, during a European tour that will take her to Russia, said Thursday that "it was very clear from the invitations that were extended ... that people were coming on the basis of the transition plan that (Annan) had presented."

"I will discuss these issues with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in St. Petersburg tomorrow and then I look forward to participating in a meeting organized by Joint Special Envoy Annan in Geneva on Saturday," she said.

"We want this meeting in Geneva... to provide an opportunity to make real progress in supporting and implementing (Annan's) six-point plan and the roadmap for transition that he has laid down," she said.

It was not clear if Moscow has rejected Annan's plan altogether or has simply not agreed to its final form yet.

"First of all, no agreed-upon projects exist, the work on the possible final document is going on, including a meeting of experts in Geneva," Lavrov told reporters. "I think that the fact that certain formulas, certain ideas proposed for the possible final document by certain countries are leaked to the media manifests an improper approach to diplomacy."

Lavrov said that diplomatic efforts should focus on urging the opposition groups to "refuse from their uncompromising approaches and, in accordance with the Kofi Annan plan, sit down for negotiations with the government."

Lavrov also criticized the exclusion of major regional player Iran from Saturday's high-level meeting.

"Iran is undoubtedly a powerful player in the whole situation," Lavrov said. "Leaving it out of the loop of the Geneva meeting is a mistake."

A senior U.S. diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss diplomatic negotiations, had said Annan assured the United States that world powers gathering in Geneva had endorsed the plan and that Russia was among its backers.

Also Thursday, a Russian defense official reportedly said that three Syrian attack helicopters that have been refurbished in Russia will be sent to Syria. Last week, a cargo ship carrying the helicopters to Syria was forced to turn back after its British insurer removed the coverage for the vessel.

Alexander Fomin, the Russian defense official, was quoted by the Ria Novosti news agency as saying that Russia plans to deliver the helicopters, without specifying how or when. "Syria is our friend," he was quoted as saying. "And we fulfill all obligations we make to our friends."

Russia has said that the helicopters had been supplied to Syria during Soviet times and refurbished under a 2008 contract.

Russia has been a key source of weapons for Syria in the past four decades, and Damascus has acquired billions of dollars' worth of combat jets, helicopters, missiles, armored vehicles and other military gear from Moscow. Moscow has continued to provide Damascus with arms, despite Western calls for a halt in supplies.

In recent weeks, Syria started using its helicopter gunships to besiege opposition areas — something it had appeared reluctant to do before.

[Calltwoarms]

The Russians still think they can bully the world. If the United States demands that western nations blockade Syria we would find out just how commtted Russia is to Assad. The Russians live like the Syrians. Crushing the opposition is a regular occurrence in Russia. They don't think murdering 14,000 civilians as a big deal.

We should arm the opposition forces with Stinger missiles. See how long those helicopters are used after that! Kaaabooom! The Mi-24 combat helicopter is a dog of a helicopter. It's called the flying tank cause it's slow and cumbersome. Stinger missiles can take them out in a snap. Like the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Syrian Air Force would be shredded in no time flat.

[w_roos]

Quote from George W. Bush on Vladimir Putin: "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy....I was able to get a sense of his soul."

[takacrat]

Well lets G W talk to him, it's clear that Obama isn't doing what G W can do!

[w_roos]

By the end of G W's term, in case you don't remember, Russian warplanes were "buzzing" US warships in the Pacific Ocean. Go pull your head out...

[melpol12]

Generals of the desert or jungle kingdoms owe their loyalty to the hand that feeds them. Their price is high, but the decorated do not demand cash, most will accept heroin. Twenty kilos of Afghanistan heroin hidden in a diplomatic pouch can fetch two million in NYC. It stands to reason that the nation which owns the heroin owns the generals of Africa and Asia.

[Nocults]

Don't you wish all countries owed their loyalty to the taxpayers that feed them?????????

This report provides an overview of U.S. foreign assistance to Israel. It includes a review of past
aid programs, data on annual assistance, and an analysis of current issues. For general
information on Israel, see CRS Report RL33476, Israel: Background and Relations with the
United States, by Carol Migdalovitz. For information on overall U.S. assistance to the Middle
East, see CRS Report RL32260, U.S. Foreign Assistance to the Middle East: Historical
Background, Recent Trends, and the FY2011 Request, by Jeremy M. Sharp.
Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II. From
1976-2004, Israel was the largest annual recipient of U.S. foreign assistance, having since been
supplanted by Iraq. Since 1985, the United States has provided nearly $3 billion in grants
annually to Israel.
Almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance. In the past, Israel also
had received significant economic assistance. Strong congressional support for Israel has resulted
in Israel's receiving benefits not available to other countries. For example, Israel can use some
U.S. military assistance both for research and development in the United States and for military
purchases from Israeli manufacturers. In addition, all U.S. foreign assistance earmarked for Israel
is delivered in the first 30 days of the fiscal year. Most other recipients normally receive aid in
installments. Congress also appropriates funds for joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense programs.

[jwilsonte5]

Who care russia has nothing left but a base in Syria. Russia is a nothing .we need to take stand and Stop even asking these countries if we can do something . who cares do whats right and what is right for us is not right for russia!!!

[Nocults]

The Imperialist countries, with a Colonial past in the Middle East, want to meet and discuss how "those people" should live, but without them being a part of the conversation.

Anyone else want a little "Democracy"????????

[kcits]

In other news the USA says it will continue to veto any resolution with Israel as its focus.

Those that dont think the two are connected are only fooling themselves.

[lloydbest1]

"We are not supporting and will not support any external meddling," Sergey Lavrov.

Ya don't suppose directly arming Assad's troops isn't "meddling" do ya?

[erasmus111]

Hahahaha

[touria55]

right on Putin . Wonder where the opposition is getting their weapons?

[Nocults]

The Mossad.

[CHICO_KK]

Nocults

Nonsense!

[sjc_1]

"Syria started using its helicopter gunships to besiege opposition areas..."

Russia wanted to send rebuilt units back so they could do more of this. Russia has blood on its hands with Syria killing innocent civilians, they should cut their losses and just stand down on this one.

[CHICO_KK]

This entire conflict can easily be solved with a single bullet to Assad's head.

[Nocults]

Or, yours.