Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. GPS News .




WAR REPORT
Syrians alone will decide on Geneva II talks: Assad
by Staff Writers
Damascus (AFP) Oct 30, 2013


Russia warns of 'huge threat' if Syria talks fail
Athens (AFP) Oct 30, 2013 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday blasted critics of a US-Russia initiative for a peace conference on Syria, warning that toppling the Assad regime militarily posed a "huge threat" to the area.

"Open objections have surfaced against holding this Russia-US meeting (dubbed Geneva II), not only among Syrian sides but also among capitals, both in neighbouring and non-neighbouring states," Lavrov said during a visit to Athens, according to the official translation.

"We must not allow this initiative to fizzle out," he added, arguing that the overthrowing of President Bashar al-Assad's regime through military means would create an "extremist" state and pose a "huge threat to those living in Syria and the area".

Since the start of the conflict in March 2011, Damascus has systematically branded the uprising-turned-rebellion as a foreign-backed plot.

Washington and Moscow have struggled to win support for peace talks in Geneva from the warring parties in Syria, where more than 115,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the conflict.

In the latest blow to peace efforts, 19 Islamist groups fighting to topple Assad issued a statement Sunday saying the Geneva conference "is not, nor will it ever be our people's choice or our revolution's demand".

burs-jph/ms/vjf

President Bashar al-Assad insisted in a meeting Wednesday with peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi that the Syrian people alone will decide the fate of a peace initiative dubbed Geneva II.

Assad also reiterated his long-standing position that in order for Syria to have peace, foreign nations must halt their support of rebels and opposition groups seeking to topple his regime, state television reported.

"The Syrian people are the only ones who have the right to decide on Syria's future, and any solution or agreement must have the acceptance of the Syrian people, and reflect their desires," Assad told Brahimi.

Brahimi's meeting with Assad comes as part of a regional tour aimed at garnering support for a US-Russian peace initiative for Syria planned next month in Geneva.

Assad also warned there must not be "any foreign intervention" in seeking a solution to Syria's civil war, in which an estimated 115,000 people have died in 31 months.

"Putting an end to support for the terrorists and pressuring the states that support them is the most important step to prepare... for dialogue," Assad said, using his regime's term for rebels.

Since the start of an anti-Assad revolt in March 2011, Damascus has systematically branded the uprising-turned-rebellion as a foreign-backed plot.

"The success of any political solution is linked to putting an end to support funnelled to terrorist groups," he added.

State television also reported UN-Arab League envoy Brahimi as agreeing with Assad that the Syrians themselves need to find a solution to the conflict ravaging the country.

"The efforts being made for the Geneva conference to be held are focused on finding the way for the Syrians themselves to meet and to agree on solving the crisis as quickly as possible," Brahimi said in the meeting, his first with Assad since December last year.

.


Related Links






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








WAR REPORT
Protest against Iraq PM blocks highway to Syria, Jorda
Ramadi, Iraq (AFP) Dec 23, 2012
About 2,000 Iraqi protesters, demanding the ouster of premier Nuri al-Maliki, blocked on Sunday a highway in western Iraq leading to Syria and Jordan, an AFP correspondent reported. The protesters, including local officials, religious and tribal leaders, turned out in Ramadi, the capital of Sunni province of Anbar, to demonstrate against the arrest of nine guards of Finance Minister Rafa al- ... read more


WAR REPORT
For fish and rice to thrive in Yolo Bypass, 'just add water'

Brazil energy, farm incentives fuel CO2 emissions

Argentine bread prices keep rising as grain scarcity kicks in

Small changes in ag practices could reduce produce-borne illness

WAR REPORT
JQI team 'gets the edge' on photon transport in silicon

Atomically Thin Device Promises New Class of Electronics

Tiny Sensors Put the Squeeze on Light

Quantum conductors benefit from growth on smooth foundations

WAR REPORT
US military's airship programs lose altitude

Boeing, Lockheed team up for new US Air Force bomber

The Effects of Space Weather on Aviation

Space ballooning: 20-mile-high flights offered for $75K

WAR REPORT
France backs down on truck 'ecotax' after protests

Proposed car system could alleviate unexplained traffic jams

China's Dongfeng mulls 'rationality' of Peugeot move

Eight U.S. states in agreement to promote zero-emission vehicles

WAR REPORT
Cambodia, Malaysia to restart domestic help immigration

China revives WTO nuts and bolts dispute with EU

World Bank: Singapore, Hong Kong best for business

Greenland awards first big mining exploitation license

WAR REPORT
Gold mining is ravaging Peruvian Amazon: study

Working wood locally in Congo basin poses challenge

Gum leaves rich in lil' gold nuggets

Risk of Amazon rainforest dieback is higher than IPCC projects

WAR REPORT
Astrium delivers microwave radiometer for the Sentinel-3A satellite

Time is ripe for fire detection satellite

Canadian Satellite SCISAT Celebrating 10 Years Of Scientific Measurements

Developing Next Generation K-12 Science Standards

WAR REPORT
Scientists untangle nanotubes to release their potential in the electronics industry

Nano-Cone Textures Generate Extremely "Robust" Water-Repellent Surfaces

Newly discovered mechanism propels micromotors

Densest array of carbon nanotubes grown to date




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement