He said in Vienna, Austria on Wednesday that the West “slammed the door” on the chances of passing a resolution in a February 5 meeting by ignoring Russia’s proposal about withdrawal of both anti-Damascus forces and Syrian government soldiers from conflict areas.
Lavrov also said that terrorists and al-Qaeda elements were present among the anti-government forces clashing with the Syrian soldiers.
He and other countries’ foreign ministers are in the Austrian capital for a Thursday conference on the ways to reduce drug smuggling from Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, China, and Russia vetoed a draft UNSC resolution, which urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to relinquish power. Both permanent members of the Security Council have repeatedly stressed that Syria’s problems had to be resolved through diplomatic channels.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011, with demonstrations being held both in favor of and against Assad.
Hundreds of people, including many members of the Syrian security forces, have been killed during the violence.
Damascus blames ‘outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorist groups’ for the violence, asserting that it is being orchestrated from abroad. However, the West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of generating the unrest.
MHB/AS/HN
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