Russia says Syria in order to ship much more chemicals, opposition presses case - Yahoo NewsMoscow (...

1. Russia says Syria to ship more chemicals, opposition presses
case
Russia says Syria in order to ship much more chemicals, opposition presses case - Yahoo News
Moscow (AFP) - Russia stated Tuesday which Syria would ship out another stockpile associated with
chemical weapons this month, since the opposition sought to persuade Moscow for you to push for
any transitional government for that war-scarred nation.
Russia, traditionally an integral ally associated with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, downplayed
concerns the regime had been falling at the rear of inside the timetable in order to remove its
chemical weapons -- an agreement reached throughout September using Moscow and Washington in
which averted US military strikes.
"I would not dramatise the disarmament issue," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov advised
the RIA Novosti information agency.
"Literally yesterday the actual Syrians announced they are planning to maneuver out a large
quantity associated with chemical substances within February," he added.
"They are usually ready to complete this method by March 1, in respect with the deadlines set
through the OPCW (Organisation for that Prohibition of Chemical Weapons)."
The US says only a pair of small shipments of chemicals really worth about four percent associated
with Syria's declared arsenal have remaining the actual Syrian port associated with Latakia so far -way less than the 700 tonnes the united states has been supposed to become able to dispose
regarding through the finish associated with 2013.
View gallery
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R)
along with Syrian opposition leader Ahmad Jarba meet inside Mos ...
Gatilov attributed your delay to become able to unforeseen circumstances and security issues, but
asserted "as far as the deadlines, things are going rather well."
His remarks came after Syrian National Coalition chief Ahmad Jarba achieved Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov inside a bid to get Moscow's aid in creating the actual regime accept any
political transition that will could pave the way to Assad's removal coming from power.
The opposition and also regime made little headway in a 10-day peace conference throughout
Switzerland that will ended Friday without dedication from Damascus to end up being able to go to a
fresh round of negotiations set regarding February 10.

2. The rival delegations produced no progress on which mediators had thought as not also difficult
trust-building issues -- local ceasefires and also humanitarian corridors -- much less about the
opposition's demand to acquire a transitional government.
Gatilov indicated Tuesday that will Moscow expected Assad in order to firmly state his delegation's
intentions to become able to resume the actual Geneva II peace talks next week.
View gallery
The Italian port involving Gioia Tauro, in
the southern region involving Calabria upon February 4, 2014, the transfe ...
Following his meeting together with Lavrov, Jarba stressed his umbrella opposition team was
especially worried with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem's refusal throughout Geneva to hold
any discussion about a transitional government.
He informed reporters Lavrov had handled the opposition's stance on Assad together with
"understanding".
"We advised the actual Russian leaders which we possess been open to any kind of solutions which
ensure Syria's long term -- the long term which is free from Assad and his war criminals," Jarba said.
"I think that we've entered a new stage involving relations with Russia," the actual opposition leader
added.
"We now possess great relations... in which I hope will continue to develop further."
View gallery
A Syrian man sells lupini beans subsequent
to a damaged building in Aleppo in February 4, 2014 (AFP Photo/ ...
Out involving synch
But Lavrov himself gave zero signal that Moscow intended in order to step-up its pressure about the
regime.
Russia's leading diplomat just told Jarba inside opening remarks accessible to reporters in which
"today's conversation will possibly be very, very useful in helping clarify approaches which could
help advance your Geneva process."

3. Jarba earlier mentioned Lavrov had assured him that the Kremlin's position on Assad's role had not
been set in stone.
But Moscow features sided having its conventional middle East ally in public along with said that
Assad's departure must not be considered a precondition pertaining to political change.
Washington -- a firm backer of the Syrian opposition -- along with Moscow had pushed the sides to
the Geneva talks inside a bid for you to end nearly three years of fighting which has claimed more
than 135,000 lives.
Tuesday's diplomatic efforts came from the backdrop of the statement through the Syrian
Observatory pertaining to Human rights involving renewed barrel bomb attacks simply by Syrian
army helicopters around the significant northern town of Aleppo.
The British-based monitor stated similar raids had killed a minimum of eight people Tuesday, as well
as a lot much more than 150 in the past 4 days.
US Secretary involving State John Kerry known as the raids "the newest barbaric act of your regime
which includes dedicated organised, wholesale torture, utilized chemical weapons, and is actually
also starving whole communities by blocking delivery of meals to always be able to Syrian civilians
throughout urgent need".
Politics & GovernmentUnrest, Conflicts & WarSyriaRussiaMoscow