Lavrov Welcomes Iran’s Participation In Moscow Conference On Syria

Moscow, June 10, IRNA -- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov said here on Saturday that Iran is a country with an influence on the Syrian government and Russia welcomes its presence in Moscow meeting on Syria. Addressing a press conference in Russia, he added that if all the countries having an influence on Syria take part in the event, it will be more effective. “Iran is among the countries which have influence on Syria,” he said, and rejected as 'foolish' the claim that Iran is involved in the events taking place in Syria. Rejecting US opposition to the presence of Iran in the conference, he added that while the Americans are realistic, they do not heed ideological issues wherever necessary. He further noted that Russia will continue its technical-military cooperation with Syria. “We do not sell Syria the weapons which may be used against the demonstrators but we sell the weapons necessary to ward off foreign threats within the frameworks of our arms contracts,” he said. However, western states and certain Arabic countries provide the Syrian opposition groups with arms to be used in civil wars, he complained. Lavrov also said that Russia will never allow imposing sanctions on Syria in the United Nations Security Council. Sanctions will have negative repercussions for the Middle East, he said. Underlining his country’s opposition to military strike on the Arab state, he also said that it would have adverse effects on regional security. The Russian foreign minister also said that banning Syrian TV channels is against freedom of expression./end