Lavrov Warns Britain: Arming Syria Rebels Breaches Int’l Law

Local Editor

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed Wednesday that arming the Syrian opposition by foreign countries contradicts with the international law.
He further reiterated that "the Syrian people determine their destiny."
Lavrov also said that Russia would not use its influence with the Syrian leadership to encourage regime change.
"I believe the destiny of Bashar al-Assad should be decided by the Syrians themselves," he said.

"I understand that the international law does not permit supplies of arms to non-governmental actors and in our point of view it is a violation of international law," Lavrov said at a press conference in London, reminding of the Libyan Scenario.

He hoped the Syrian opposition would formulate a team to negotiate the Syrian government, adding "the government and opposition have to nominate two teams for negotiations.. the government did so, and we wait for the opposition to do the same thing."
In parallel, Lavrov called on the western countries to help formulate a team of the opposition to negotiate with the Syrian government.
"If the target was really to stop the bloodshed in the country, they had not to put preconditions," the top Russian diplomat stated.

Meanwhile, Hague restated his desire for UN Security Council-backed measures against Syria, but said no agreement had been reached with Lavrov. He repeated that his country did not rule out arming the rebels, a stance that France is understood to back.

The joint talks in London on Wednesday come a day after British Prime Minister David Cameron hinted that Britain might veto any extension of an EU arms embargo that blocks the supplying of weapons to either side in the conflict.
On Tuesday, Cameron told a parliamentary committee that such a defiant decision would only occur if EU members unanimously agreed to renew the sanctions against both sides in the civil war.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org