Assad should reform or quit over Syria uprising, says Dmitry Medvedev

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

The Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, has urged his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, to reform or leave office – the first time the allies have publicly diverged during Syria's six-month uprising.

The surprise statement, reported by Russian news agencies, came as Turkey – a former ally of Damascus – said again that it would consider all options in dealing with the ongoing violence in Syria.

When pressed on what those options were, the Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, conceded that military measures would be considered if the situation threatened his country's security.

"Every domestic crisis in Syria will affect Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Jordan. It affects the whole region," he said. "In this regard, there is no other country more important than Syria today. So, when an internal conflict in Syria poses a risk to Turkey, we will take all necessary measures."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/07/assad-reform-quit-syria-uprising-medvedev

[Behind the Aegis]

1. OMG! OMG! OMG! Turkey is coing to attack Syria!!!

IT'S WWIII!!!!!

:eyes:

[AverageJoe90]

2. Too bad that crooked putz Putin's probably going to get the presidency again.

Google '2012 Russian elections wiki'. He dropped out. Now it seems Russia will once again be run by a useful idiot whose actions are the bidding of what I'd like to call the world crime network.

[pampango]

3. Medvedev urges Assad to reform or go

Source: BBC

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called on Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to launch promised reforms or step down as the country's leader.

But he said this decision should be taken by the Syrian people and the Syrian leadership, and not by Nato or "certain European countries".

"Russia wants as much as the other countries for Syria to end the bloodshed and demands that the Syrian leadership conduct the necessary reforms," Mr Medvedev said on Russian television. "If the Syrian leadership is incapable of conducting such reforms, it will have to go, but this decision should be taken not in Nato or certain European countries, it should be taken by the Syrian people and the Syrian leadership."

Mr Medvedev has previously called for Syria to launch reforms but has stopped short of saying Mr Assad should step down if he does not implement them.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15218727

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Assad can probably relax because it is not Putin making these statements. Otherwise Bashar would be having some sleepless nights.

"this decision ... should be taken by the Syrian people and the Syrian leadership." Indeed the Syrian people have been taking this action for 6 months now. Unfortunately the only "action" taken by the leadership has involved tanks and security forces trying (in vain so far) to repress the former.

"NATO and 'certain European countries'" are obviously not going to do anything in Syria without the approval of the UN. Since Russia can (and has) prevented the UN from doing anything about Syria (even just a verbal condemnation), Medvedev playing the "look for NATO" card is probably welcome in Damascus.

[bemildred]

4. The trouble is, if he allows reform, then he will have to go too.

So either way, he is going to go; this now is negotiating about what will follow when he goes.