Russia to help Syria in case of external military strike – Putin

“Will we be helping Syria? We will,” Vladimir Putin said at a press conference following a G20 summit in St. Petersburg on Friday. The US and other countries will put themselves outside of law if they begin a military operation in Syria, Putin added, according to Voice of Russia

 “I presume that everything concerning the so-called use of chemical weapons is a provocation on the part of the “fighters”, who expect assistance from the outside, I mean assistance from the countries that have supported them from the very start. This is the essence of this provocation,” Putin said.

“The use of force on a sovereign state is only possible if it is done for self-defense, and, as we know, Syria is not attacking the US, or under a decision made by the UN Security Council,” he continued.

“As one participant in our discussion said, those who act otherwise put themselves outside of law,” Putin said.

“At this time, which is generally difficult for the world economy, it would be counterproductive to destabilize the situation in the Middle East, to say the least,” Putin added.

“The United States, Turkey, Canada, Saudi Arabia and France” supported military operation against Syria, while Russia, China, India, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Italy opposed the option at the G20 summit, President Vladimir Putin said.

“You said the vote was 50/50. This is not quite so. And I can tell you who was in favor of the military operations. As you know, these are the United States, Turkey, Canada, Saudi Arabia and France,” he responded to a journalist who suggested that G20 were divided approximately 50/50 over the need for a military strike on Syria.

“The categorical objections were raised by Russia, China, India and Indonesia – and I would like to call your attention to the fact that this is the world’s largest Islamic country in terms of the population – Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Italy,” Putin said.

The Russian leader recalled that British Prime Minister David Cameron had spoken for a military operation in Syria but the national parliament voted down the option.

“The German federal chancellor is also extremely cautious. Germany is not going to get involved into any military operations,” Putin said.

He said that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opposed military operations against Syria, too. Putin also said he was surprised with the positions of certain G20 states on Syria. 

“The Indian prime minister unexpectedly said last night that he was categorically against any military operations. The position of the president of Indonesia, which is the largest Islamic country in the world with the population of, I think, 350 million, came as a surprise to me. The Brazilian president took an absolutely firm stand, and the South African president did, too,” the Russian leader said.

M.D