ODFS Director agrees as Russia criticizes Arab League move on Syria

Russia criticizes Arab League move on Syria.

Associated Press

MARCH 28, 2013

Russia says the Arab League's recognition of the Syrian opposition as the only representative of the country effectively kills efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the civil war there.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that Russia "deeply regrets" the move and is concerned about its consequences.

The Arab League let the main Syrian opposition coalition take over the country's seat for the first time at a summit Tuesday in Qatar.

Lavrov says the move amounts to a rejection of an international peace plan approved in Geneva in June, which was supported by the Arab League at the time.

He also argued that the move throws the status of U.N. and Arab League envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, in limbo.

Russia has steadfastly backed Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

Welcoming the news, ODFS Director Ribal Al Assad said the following:

“I am pleased to see Russia highlight this matter and agree with their position, I fear that the undemocratic move to recognise an non-representative Islamist controlled opposition will not help to reach a peaceful solution. It also runs contrary to the Geneva Peace Plan and cancels the role of the U.N envoy to Syria Mr. Lakhdar Ibrahimi.

Syria’s seat has now moved from an illegitimate regime to an illegitimate opposition which was not elected by -and does not represent- the Syrian people.I agree with Russia's position on this matter.

We must also recognise that the Arab League is not neutral or objective. Nor does it represent democracy; it represents the very states encouraging extremists to fight in Syria.”