Russia says illegal to impose Syria no-fly zone from Jordan

MOSCOW ,(ST)- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that any attempt to enforce a no-fly zone over Syria using F-16 fighter jets and Patriot missiles from Jordan would violate international law, according to Reuters.

Lavrov’s remark was made on Saturday during a meeting with his Italian counterpart Emma Bonino.

Russia opposes any foreign military intervention in the crisis in Syria.

“There have been leaks from Western media regarding the serious consideration to create a no-fly zone over Syria through the deployment of Patriot anti-aircraft missiles and F-16 jets in Jordan,” said Lavrov, speaking at a joint news conference with his Italian counterpart.

“You don’t have to be a great expert to understand that this will violate international law,” he said.

The Italian Foreign Minister, for her part, underscored that the anticipated Geneva 2 should be based on Geneva 1 conclusions.

Both diplomats made it clear that there is no way out from  the crisis in Syria but through a political solution.

Yesterday, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke stated that his country supports efforts to hold an international conference on Syria and will insist that this issue be discussed by the UN Security Council.

M.D