Putin:Russia cooperates with legitimate Syrian government

Russia has never violated international law in pursuing military-technological cooperation with Syria, President Vladimir Putin said when asked whether Russia is continuing to honor its contracts with Syria on the supply and maintenance of military hardware.

“Yes, sure, we are doing this and proceeding from the assumption that we are cooperating with a legitimate government and not violating any provisions of international law and any of our obligations,” Putin said.

President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that Russia had supplied Syria with parts of S-300 missile defense systems, though the delivery was later suspended. Mr. Putin also stressed Moscow’s next step on arms shipments would depend on further developments in the crisis in Syria,according to Voice of Russia.

“We have delivered some parts of S-300. But the delivery was not completed, we have suspended it for now,” the president said in an interview with Associated Press and Channel One.

Proof of possible chemical weapons use in Syria should be submitted to UN security council, should be convincing – Putin

Russia needs evidence regarding anyone’s guilt in the use of chemical weapons in Syria for further decisive actions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said .

“We will be persuaded by a deep objective study of the issue and the presence of evidence that would be obvious and clearly show, who used it and what exactly was used. After that, we will be ready to act in the most decisive and serious way,” he said.

Russia does not possess undeniable information on use of chemical weapons in Syria – Putin

If there is convincing proof of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, it should be submitted to the UN Security Council, and Russia does not have such information at the moment, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“We presume that if someone has information that chemical weapons were used, and that they were used precisely by the regular army, then this proof should be submitted to the United Nations Security Council. To inspectors and to the Security Council. And it should be convincing,” Putin said .

This proof “should not be based on any rumors or on information obtained by special services through tapping, from some conversations and so on,” he said.

“There are experts even in the United States who believe that the proof presented by the administration is not convincing and does not rule out the possibility that the opposition could have conducted a carefully planned provocative action in trying to provide their patrons with a pretext for an armed intervention,” he said.

Putin doubts Syrian chemical attack video

The video of children allegedly killed in a chemical weapons attack in Syria does not answer the question of who is to blame, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“It is believed that it’s a compilation created by the “militants” who, as we know very well, and the US administration admits it, are connected with al-Qaeda, which is known for its cruelty,” Putin said .

M.D