Free Newsletters - Space - Defense - Environment - Energy
..
. Medical and Hospital 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




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





WAR REPORT
US must put Mideast peace after Iran: Israeli minister
Jerusalem (AFP) Oct 30, 2013
Israel's deputy defence minister on Wednesday urged the United States to sideline Middle East peace talks in favour of dealing with the Iran nuclear issue as a priority. Danny Danon, a hardline member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, said that a peace agreement with the Palestinians was "wishful thinking" in the time frame set aside by the US administration. "If I coul ... read more


WAR REPORT
Space technologies boost disaster reduction int'l co-op

How to Manage Nature's Runaway Freight Trains

Uruguay to pull peacekeepers from Haiti: president

Storm-battered northern Europe slowly gets back to normal

WAR REPORT
Russia Retires Faulty Glonass-M Satellite

Raytheon demonstrates first Direct Geo-Positioning Metric Sensor

Britain considering car-tracking 'bullet' technology

Orbcomm Launches Solar-Powered Trailer Tracking Solution

WAR REPORT
Study: Humans made sophisticated stone tools earlier than thought

Did hard-wired fear of snakes drive evolution of human vision?

Hair regeneration method is first to induce new human hair growth

No known hominin is ancestor of Neanderthals and modern humans

WAR REPORT
Poacher shot dead in Zimbabwe game park

South African 'living stone' plant adapts to extreme conditions in new ways

Aboriginal Hunting Practice Increases Animal Populations

Surfer loses leg in latest Reunion island shark attack

WAR REPORT
SARS-like viruses can jump from bats to humans: study

The role of uncertainty in infectious disease modelling

HIV has big hiding place, foiling hopes for cure

Baby's HIV 'cure not a fluke,' US researchers say

WAR REPORT
Women driven to fury by Beijing police road tips

US, family urge China to free anti-censorship activist

Anti-corruption activists face trial in China

Beijing divorces soar over property tax

WAR REPORT
Pirates kidnap two American sailors off Nigeria

Seaman Guard owner to fight arrest of ship's crew in India

Somali pirates on trial for seizing French yacht

Accused Silk Road mastermind to be sent to New York for trial

WAR REPORT
China GDP figures wrong by $610 billion: report

Researcher is optimistic about meeting 'Grand Challenge' of global prosperity

Future of global economy in next 30 years

Commentary: Costly greed




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