Russia Rejects Clinton Accusation of Arms for Syria Repression
Source: Bloomberg
By Ladane Nasseri and Flavia Krause-Jackson - 2012-06-13T15:27:19Z
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected U.S. accusations that its sending arms for use against Syrian civilians and said his country is simply fulfilling its contractual obligations.
We are completing previously signed and paid-for contracts, Lavrov said during a press conference in Tehran today with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. All these contracts have to do exclusively with air-defense systems. Russia was only supplying what Syria might need in case of a military attack from outside.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday that she was concerned by the latest information we have that there are attack helicopters on the way from Russia to Syria, which will escalate the conflict quite dramatically. Russia is repairing about 20 Mi-24 helicopters sold to Syria during the Soviet era, two people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg today.
The U.S. and United Nations say the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad is using helicopter gunships as it increases the tempo of military operations against the opposition. After 15 months of conflict, the UN says its two- month old cease-fire is failing to hold and that massacres are being committed against Sunni civilians.
Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-13/russia-rejects-clinton-accusation-of-arms-for-syria-repression.html
grantcart
(53,061 posts)We have one thug (Putkin) talking about dealings with another thug (Assad)
We are completing previously signed and paid-for contracts, Lavrov said during a press conference in Tehran today with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. All these contracts have to do exclusively with air-defense systems.
here is the translation;
We are making good money selling guns and ammunition to Assad so he can kill innocent civilians and maintain his position. He is loyal to us. We are not going to stop and we are going to block the Security Council from taking joint action. How do you think we are going to make money in Russia? Tourism? Have you ever been here during our 8 month winter? Innovation like Apple? Are you kidding? We repress people here so that no one passes gas without wondering if they are going to harassed for giving away a natural resource without paying me a kickback. We are going to continue to sell them everything we can. While he still has cash of course.
snappyturtle
(14,656 posts)LiberalLovinLug
(14,168 posts)And BTW, what's stopping Putin from just waiting for the eventual demise of the Assad government and fulfilling the contract AFTER that with the eventual new government?
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)mitchtv
(17,718 posts)the minute after transfer takes place
Beacool
(30,247 posts)the evening news showed Russian made helicopters hovering over a Syrian city.
Lavrov, you guys are lying.
may3rd
(593 posts)They are sleazy sales men in it for the $$$
They rely on quality through quantity to stay in business