Russia praises Syrian decision to admit Arab monitors

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Russia on Monday praised Syria’s decision to let in Arab monitors, saying this could help stabilize the violence-stricken country, after Damascus made clear it agreed to the deal on the advice of its big power ally.

“We believe that the document signed in Cairo gives an opportunity to … provide safety for the Syrian people and stabilize the situation,” the Russian Foreign ministry said in a statement, according to Interfax news agency.

Syria agreed on Monday to let Arab League observers into the country to monitor implementation of a deal it agreed last month to pull troops from protest-hit towns, free political prisoners and start talking to dissidents.

Damascus signed the deal on the counseling of Moscow, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said.

An armed insurgency has emerged in the last two months in Syria, alongside a peaceful protest movement that began in March inspired by uprisings across the Arab world.

President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, including a pro-Assad militia, have reportedly suffered scores of casualties in the last few weeks, especially in the northwestern province of Idlib near Turkey and in the central region of Homs.

Russia has had strong ties with Damascus since the Soviet era. Syria has been a major client for Russian arms sales and hosts a Russian naval maintenance installation on its Mediterranean coast, a rare outpost abroad for Moscow’s military.

Iran backs Syria’s move

Iran on Monday said it backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s decision to start implementing an Arab League plan to quell the violence in his country by finally letting in observers.

But Tehran suggested it was not entirely happy with the pressure Arab states had brought to bear on Damascus, with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying their action towards Syria was “like a joke.”

Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, Hossein Amir Abdolahian, told the state Arabic language television network Al-Alam that “Iran’s official stance regarding Syria and the Arab League plan is that whatever Bashar al-Assad deems as acceptable, we would approve of and accept.”

He added that the Arab League plan “contains many of the points Iran was also looking at,” even if not all concerns were addressed.

Ahmadinejad, though, criticised Arab nations for the way they had been treating Syria, Iran’s principal ally in the Middle East.

“Certain regional countries carry out acts which Iran considers to be more like a joke,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

Reuters, AFP

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12 responses to “Russia praises Syrian decision to admit Arab monitors”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar

    We can also note that Ahmadinejad was not criticising Assad’s killing forces and jailing of whole families …. perhaps the peaceful demonstrators reminded him of his own last ‘election’ results. The ‘normalcy’ of such government responses just seemed right.

  2.  Avatar

    We can also note that Ahmadinejad was not criticising Assad’s killing forces and jailing of whole families …. perhaps the peaceful demonstrators reminded him of his own last ‘election’ results. The ‘normalcy’ of such government responses just seemed right.

  3. It is a start but in my opinion this will not change the situation much it is a way to borrow time the killings will continue in more discreet way , all those years the Syrian Regimes style was to lie ,mislead, coerce, hide,reject all accusations, also the dissidents do like to see the regime’s dominance still in Syria, neither Pres. Assad will resign, are you kidding me, nor leave peacefully. I hope I am wrong.

  4.  Avatar

    It is a start but in my opinion this will not change the situation much it is a way to borrow time the killings will continue in more discreet way , all those years the Syrian Regimes style was to lie ,mislead, coerce, hide,reject all accusations, also the dissidents do like to see the regime’s dominance still in Syria, neither Pres. Assad will resign, are you kidding me, nor leave peacefully. I hope I am wrong.

  5. Ahmednejad is afraid that The secret role of Iran and Hezbollah will be out in Syria. Few days before 13 captured Assad militia confessed that they are working for Hezbollah and Muqtada Al Sadr. Iranian revolutionary guard also helping Assad to crack down the protest. There are some Youtube video breaking the little secret of Iran and Iranian president is not comfortable with that. He said AL action is a joke ! well if we compare with Libyan situation then it is a Joke. AL within seven days after the fake uprising of Libya suspended Libya and immediately asked UN action. But in the Syrian affair its already 10 months and a genuine uprising but AL is not as prompt as they were on Libya. By the way Iran and the Syrian regime have a direct role on Libyan fake uprising and subsequent control of the NATO rats. They both are working hand in hand with NATO in Libya. 

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Mostly it was a difference in numbers. The Daffy was importing workers and gunmen and beating on his people for years, while Syria has too many out of work already with a much bigger population. What’s 40,000 who lifted a voice being crushed after all? (Which is the way Russia and China think too.)

  6.  Avatar

    Ahmednejad is afraid that The secret role of Iran and Hezbollah will be out in Syria. Few days before 13 captured Assad militia confessed that they are working for Hezbollah and Muqtada Al Sadr. Iranian revolutionary guard also helping Assad to crack down the protest. There are some Youtube video breaking the little secret of Iran and Iranian president is not comfortable with that. He said AL action is a joke ! well if we compare with Libyan situation then it is a Joke. AL within seven days after the fake uprising of Libya suspended Libya and immediately asked UN action. But in the Syrian affair its already 10 months and a genuine uprising but AL is not as prompt as they were on Libya. By the way Iran and the Syrian regime have a direct role on Libyan fake uprising and subsequent control of the NATO rats. They both are working hand in hand with NATO in Libya. 

    1.  Avatar

      Mostly it was a difference in numbers. The Daffy was importing workers and gunmen and beating on his people for years, while Syria has too many out of work already with a much bigger population. What’s 40,000 who lifted a voice being crushed after all? (Which is the way Russia and China think too.)

    2.  Avatar

      Mostly it was a difference in numbers. The Daffy was importing workers and gunmen and beating on his people for years, while Syria has too many out of work already with a much bigger population. What’s 40,000 who lifted a voice being crushed after all? (Which is the way Russia and China think too.)

    3.  Avatar

      Mostly it was a difference in numbers. The Daffy was importing workers and gunmen and beating on his people for years, while Syria has too many out of work already with a much bigger population. What’s 40,000 who lifted a voice being crushed after all? (Which is the way Russia and China think too.)

  7. antar2011 Avatar

    will Assadi thugs show these monitors the prisons?
    will they show what they do to a body after he is dead and before they give him/her to his family?
    will they show how that Assadi thugs bombing inosent families all their fault is living in the area?
    will they show the pple being shot at because they are going to get some bread for their kids?

    what are they going there for?
    it is indeed just a way to buy more time to cotinue the killing/religious cleansing and to have that area east of Syria that is dominated with Assadi thugs to start his assult with the ‘outside help”….if anyone is goig to think that Assad is goig to do  down without a fight then think again…..

    i have been hearing this analysis from many pple and i am beginig to believe it even if it sounds extraordinary.

  8.  Avatar

    will Assadi thugs show these monitors the prisons?
    will they show what they do to a body after he is dead and before they give him/her to his family?
    will they show how that Assadi thugs bombing inosent families all their fault is living in the area?
    will they show the pple being shot at because they are going to get some bread for their kids?

    what are they going there for?
    it is indeed just a way to buy more time to cotinue the killing/religious cleansing and to have that area east of Syria that is dominated with Assadi thugs to start his assult with the ‘outside help”….if anyone is goig to think that Assad is goig to do  down without a fight then think again…..

    i have been hearing this analysis from many pple and i am beginig to believe it even if it sounds extraordinary.

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