Hagel: United States, Russia Want Stability in Syria

WASHINGTON- US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has stressed that both the United States and Russia want stability to be attained in Syria, but warned against  the repercussions of the crisis in the country.

During a press conference he held with Gen. Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the US Chiefs of Staff last night in Washington, Hagel said that his country along with Russia are sparing no effort to convince powers in the region to be cautious against any military escalation or armament.

“We plan to face any military action . We and the Russians don’t want to witness an explosion in Syria that puts us in front of a regional war in the Middle East,” Hagel said.

For his part, Dempsey criticized Russia’s arms supplies to Syria.

Earlier on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergi Lavrov affirmed that his country is committed to implementing the agreements signed to supply Syria with defensive weapons in accordance with international laws.

Russia’s General Staff Rejects Intervention in Syria

 Meanwhile, Russia’s General Staff is opposed to military intervention in Syria, saying this would be meddling in the country’s domestic affairs, Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff, Col. Gen. Alexander Postnikov said.

According to the voice of Russia,  the Russian Defense Ministry “fully supports” the stance voiced by President Vladimir Putin that Russia is against forcefully intervening in Syria’s ongoing events to resolve the crisis, Postnikov told the Ekho Moskvy radio station.

   “I think we will be sticking to this hands-off attitude as long as possible,” Postnikov said adding that it is up to the Syrian people to decide on the country’s future.

 H. Mustafa