Russia to revise decision on Syrian arms
May 30, 2013, 1:19 pm

Russia has been criticised after announcing its commitment to the business contracts signed in 2010 with Syria [AP]

“Every decision has two sides. If one side lifts restrictions, the other may consider itself free from observing earlier commitments,” Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu said.

Russia has been heavily criticised after announcing its commitment to the business contracts signed in 2010 that envisage weapons supplies to the Syrian government.

Israel has been particularly concerned about Russia’s deliveries of six S-300 air defence systems to Syria.

Earlier in May, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the Syrian crisis in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi, amid growing concerns over Russian arms supplies to Damascus.

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has repeatedly explained to his international counterparts that it is not planning on further supplies of weapons to Syria, but still has commitments under existing contracts.

“Russia is not planning to sell,” Lavrov said.

“Russia has sold and signed contracts a long time ago, and is completing supplies of the equipment – which is anti-aircraft systems, according to the already signed contracts,” Lavrov added.

Before the start of the rebellion against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in March 2011, Syria, the largest importer of Russian arms in the Middle East, had shown interest in purchasing various armoured vehicles, Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft and Iskander-E tactical ballistic missiles.

Moscow has denounced the EU move to arm Syrian rebels as illegitimate and violating international law.

“Discussing at an official level whether or not to supply arms to non-state subjects is in conflict with all norms of international law, including the principles of non-interference in states’ internal affairs, not to mention military intervention,” Lavrov said.

Russia is worried that resuming arms supplies to the Syrian rebels will hamper the upcoming international conference on Syria, brokered by Russia and the US.

“This is a reflection of double standards and a direct blow to the international conference on Syria proposed by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and US secretary of state John Kerry on May 7,” Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

In the meantime Washington has applauded the EU decision.

“Support for the opposition is a track that we are pursuing,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

The European Union has lifted the arms embargo on the Syrian opposition, but extended the sanctions against the Syrian government after June 1.

EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton confirmed that EU member countries can make their own decision on arms supplies to Syria, and added that any arms sent to Syria would be “intended for the protection of civilians.”

The US and Russia agreed to set up an international conference on Syria during John Kerry’s visit to Moscow.

The conference is expected to be held in mid-June and will be a follow-up to last year’s Geneva talks that drafted a peace roadmap for Syria.

Moscow wants to involve all the nations that took part in the Geneva conference.

The idea has been backed by international actors and China said it “supports all efforts to reach a political settlement of the Syrian crisis.”

Beijing said it is “ready to cooperate with other parties in promoting the soonest resolution of the Syrian issue in a just and peaceful way.”

Along with Russia, China has vetoed different UN Security Council resolutions on Syria pressuring Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Daria Chernyshova