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June 8, 2012

Russia Calls for Iran Role in Talks, Rejects Intervention 
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Members of the U.N. Security Council remain at an impasse over an
international response to Syria's turmoil. Kofi Annan has proposed
establishing a new contact group involving the United States, Russia and
Iran, but the United States has refused to accept Iran's involvement.
Russia and China continue to oppose proposals for sanctions against
Syria and the U.S.-led calls for Assad to step down. At the United
Nations, Russia envoy Vitaly Churkin said Council members have ignored
the role of Syria's armed rebels in the ongoing violence and called for
Iran's involvement in any future talks.

Vitaly Churkin: "The truth of the matter as you know is that armed
opposition groups not only fail to comply to Kofi Annan's plan, but they
declared that it was not their intention to do so — which to us is
a very dangerous development, a very counterproductive development. We
hear complaints about Iran so the way to deal with that is to involve
Iran in discussions and make sure that their activities are in sync with
the rest of us who want to have this matter finally settled peacefully."

Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov vowed to
oppose any Security Council measure authorizing military intervention,
saying: "There will not be a Security Council mandate for outside
intervention, I guarantee you that."

 

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