Latest US Statements on Russia, Syria Contradict Norms of Diplomacy, Humanism – Moscow

The latest statements of US State Department spokesman John Kirby are cynical and contradict the norms of humanism, Russia’s Foreign Ministry official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday, Itar Tass reported.

“There was hope that by the morning these statements would be disavowed not only because of their irrelevance but in general their nonconformity with any diplomatic norms and norms of humanism,” Zakharova said. “Unfortunately, this has not occurred.”

“I would like to address Washington with a call for sharing all relevant information at its disposal, if it has evidence of plans for terror acts or likely attacks against some Russian citizens that Kirby has mentioned,” Zakharova told a news briefing. “Otherwise, it may be interpreted in way other than an act of concealment.”

 Zakharova stressed: “I want to note that such statements are made by a person who had years in military service in his career. If people allow speaking about their colleagues in such a tone and with such cynicism, then I want to ask: what’s in the future”?

The diplomat also assumed that after such statements even Radio Liberty “will soon stop quoting American representatives.”

Ryabkov: US Inviting Terrorists to Attack its Cities

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also denounced a US projection of possible attacks on Russian cities by terrorists fighting in Syria, saying the statement amounts to invitations to terrorism. 

“We cannot interpret this as anything else apart from the current US administration’s de facto support for terrorism,” Ryabkov was quoted as saying.

“These thinly disguised invitations to use terrorism as a weapon against Russia show the political depths the current US administration has stooped to in its approach to the Middle East and specifically to Syria.”

In her news briefing, Zakharova went on to say that the contacts between Russia and the US over Syria haven’t been broken off.

“As for contacts with the US, they haven’t been cut off, we haven’t slammed the door,” she said. “Some exchange of information continues, the contacts haven’t been broken off.”

On Wednesday, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said one of the consequences of the war in Syria could be extremists’ “attacks against Russian interests, perhaps even Russian cities.” “And Russia will continue to send troops home in body bags,” he said.

Dead-end policy in Middle East

According to Zakharova, Washington should be ashamed of continuing stubbornly its dead-end policy in the Middle East.

“It cannot be ruled out that this erroneous strategy of the US, which has brought Americans into a stalemate in the region, comes as a result of the US administration’s doing the bidding of its so-called allies in the region that were spurring into some action, including regime changes,” the diplomat said.

“It is not shameful to admit erroneousness of one’s course. It is shameful to continue persisting and pursuing the course, sweeping away all that is reasonable, logical and the only correct in this situation while being aware that the course is erroneous and leads nowhere,” she said.

Sanctions threat

According to Zakharova, threats to impose sanctions against Russia over Syria is complete nonsense, they are aimed at people who don’t monitor the situation.

“Why are sanctions imposed, what Russia has to do with it … there is no explanation to this,” she said. “This (threats to impose sanctions) is aimed at people who are not monitoring the situation,” she said.

She said Russia’s approach differs from the approach of Western countries. “They have one approach: remove Assad and then look how to build this all anew. This logic has not proved its worth anywhere,” the diplomat added.

“When the desired has not been achieved, a media campaign is launched, which fits into the logic of a campaign to isolate Russia,” Zakharova noted.

H.M