Russia insists that the Syrian people should decide on the fate of President Bashar al-Asad, however it is not clinging to him in any way, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told the Interfax news agency in an interview on 10 July.

file photo
"We can hardly imagine that any international forum acting within legal boundaries can decide on such issues (the fate of Al-Asad - Interfax), which is the exclusive domain of Syrian sovereignty," Bogdanov said.

"In this connection, I would like to stress that Russia's position is not determined by our clinging to specific personalities," he said, adding that it is for the people to decide the fate of their leaders, in accordance with prevailing legislation.

Bogdanov pointed out that Al-Asad's future was not discussed at the 30 June Geneva meeting, where Syria was not represented. He stressed that statements by some foreign officials suggesting that the outcomes communique of the Geneva meeting implies Al-Asad's ouster constitute a liberal interpretation of the document.

"Such statements can hardly be qualified as anything other than a liberal interpretation of the reached agreements. It is our deep conviction that coordinated international documents should not be subject to interpretation, but understood exactly as worded," Bogdanov said.

Bogdanov stressed that a transitional governing body in Syria should be "formed on the basis of mutual agreement" and may include members of the current government and opposition, as well as members of other groups. "It unequivocally follows from this wording (in the communique) that the make-up of such a transitional body of power has to be determined by the Syrians themselves as part of an inclusive political dialogue," he concluded.

"Giving this rather specific and clear document any personal and essentially contrived interpretations would not only be counterproductive, but dangerous in terms of confusing the public opinion. In essence, this has only one goal - wishful thinking," Bogdanov concluded.

In a separate report drawing on the same interview, Bogdanov was quoted as saying that Russia would welcome another meeting of an expanded Action Group on Syria.

"For my part, I can only confirm that we would welcome organizing another meeting of the Action Group in Moscow, although we would not oppose (holding it in) Geneva, if the (UN special) envoy (Kofi Annan) and group members found this more convenient. In any case, holding such an event would be timely," he said, adding that work would continue on "making it (the group) more representative".

Bogdanov also noted that "Moscow regrets that Iran and Saudi Arabia - states which have a significant influence on the situation - were not present in Geneva because of the position of several of our partners". "We are convinced that Syria's closest neighbours - Lebanon and Jordan, which are directly interested in stability and security in this country and which did not take part in the Geneva round, could make an important contribution to the common efforts," he stressed.

In yet another report on Bogdanov's interview by Interfax, he was quoted as saying that the fulfilment of the requirements of Kofi Annan's plan by the Syrian opposition would be one of the key discussion points for the upcoming visit of a delegation of the Syrian National Council to Moscow.

"We will make every effort to bring the Syrian oppositionists to realistic, constructive positions which allow for resolving difficult tasks for ending bloodshed, restoring safety, stability and calm in the country," he said.

Keywords: Russia, Middle East, Syria - Russian News - Russia

Russia insists that the Syrian people should decide on the fate of President Bashar al-Asad, however it is not clinging to him in any way, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told the Interfax news agency in an interview on 10 July.

file photo
"We can hardly imagine that any international forum acting within legal boundaries can decide on such issues (the fate of Al-Asad - Interfax), which is the exclusive domain of Syrian sovereignty," Bogdanov said.

"In this connection, I would like to stress that Russia's position is not determined by our clinging to specific personalities," he said, adding that it is for the people to decide the fate of their leaders, in accordance with prevailing legislation.

Bogdanov pointed out that Al-Asad's future was not discussed at the 30 June Geneva meeting, where Syria was not represented. He stressed that statements by some foreign officials suggesting that the outcomes communique of the Geneva meeting implies Al-Asad's ouster constitute a liberal interpretation of the document.

"Such statements can hardly be qualified as anything other than a liberal interpretation of the reached agreements. It is our deep conviction that coordinated international documents should not be subject to interpretation, but understood exactly as worded," Bogdanov said.

Bogdanov stressed that a transitional governing body in Syria should be "formed on the basis of mutual agreement" and may include members of the current government and opposition, as well as members of other groups. "It unequivocally follows from this wording (in the communique) that the make-up of such a transitional body of power has to be determined by the Syrians themselves as part of an inclusive political dialogue," he concluded.

"Giving this rather specific and clear document any personal and essentially contrived interpretations would not only be counterproductive, but dangerous in terms of confusing the public opinion. In essence, this has only one goal - wishful thinking," Bogdanov concluded.

In a separate report drawing on the same interview, Bogdanov was quoted as saying that Russia would welcome another meeting of an expanded Action Group on Syria.

"For my part, I can only confirm that we would welcome organizing another meeting of the Action Group in Moscow, although we would not oppose (holding it in) Geneva, if the (UN special) envoy (Kofi Annan) and group members found this more convenient. In any case, holding such an event would be timely," he said, adding that work would continue on "making it (the group) more representative".

Bogdanov also noted that "Moscow regrets that Iran and Saudi Arabia - states which have a significant influence on the situation - were not present in Geneva because of the position of several of our partners". "We are convinced that Syria's closest neighbours - Lebanon and Jordan, which are directly interested in stability and security in this country and which did not take part in the Geneva round, could make an important contribution to the common efforts," he stressed.

In yet another report on Bogdanov's interview by Interfax, he was quoted as saying that the fulfilment of the requirements of Kofi Annan's plan by the Syrian opposition would be one of the key discussion points for the upcoming visit of a delegation of the Syrian National Council to Moscow.

"We will make every effort to bring the Syrian oppositionists to realistic, constructive positions which allow for resolving difficult tasks for ending bloodshed, restoring safety, stability and calm in the country," he said.