The rift between Russia and the West over Syria and Iran has widened on Tuesday as Moscow sent warships to Syrian shores in a show of support for the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and slammed new United States sanctions against Iran as “unacceptable”.
Three Russian warships have entered Syrian territorial waters, Russian wire services reported on Tuesday citing Syrian sources. The news came a day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West and Arab monarchies of engaging in “political provocation” in Syria by rejecting dialogue between the opposition and authorities and welcoming armed attacks on government offices.
The Russian warships were reported to be heading towards the Syrian port of Tartus, where Russia has a naval base. A source close to the Syrian President said the Russian ships would patrol Syrian waters “to prevent any military interference”. Media reports said the ships may try to intercept small vessels that are smuggling weapons for Syrian opposition from the Lebanon and Turkey.
The Russian military refused either to confirm or deny the reports.
“We are not commenting on this information,” said Russian Navy spokesman Igor Dygalo.
Also on Tuesday Russia dismissed new U.S. “exterritorial” sanctions against Iran as “unacceptable and violating international law”.
The U.S. sanctions slapped on Iran on Monday “seriously complicate efforts for constructive dialogue with Tehran,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement.
“Ratcheting up the sanctions pressure, which for some of our partners is becoming practically an end in itself, will not encourage Iran to sit down at the negotiating table,” the Russian statement said.
Russia fears fall of Syria .If Syria goes into hands of West and USA then comes demise of Iran.Russia fears that all its Allies would be dead soon and it has to wound up its millitary asets from its neighours
You all talk of Democracy in Syria, yes you are right but what of Saudi and other Gulf Country. Don't be partial. What is good for Iran should be good to Israel, syria be good to saudi.
the Russian ships would patrol Syrian waters “to prevent any military
interference”. And the presence of Russian warships doesn't amount to a
military interference ? The bad old Soviet logics is back in the
Kremlin...
Jennifer: Don't make me laugh. You actually think this has anything to do with human rights and civilians? Don't tell me. I bet you think the Libyan war was all about that as well. Ever wondered why the Arab League and NATO have no qualms with Bahrain mowing down its own citizens? Hm? Not even a word recently, yet they're itching to attack Syria. Notice human rights abuses goes unchecked in Libya today as reported by the HRW and Amnesty. NATO is not to be trusted and it's high time for BRIC to stand up to European and American imperialism. This is especially despicable considering the US got caught funding these Syrian opposition groups with its money to "motivate" them. Disgusting!
"Like it or not there is little the Russians can do about this other then move some ships around the area and make some noise."
Josh, last I heard they still had quite a few ICBMs.
@Josh. Don't kid yourself, NATO can't handle 20,000 Talibans whose idea of high technology is a tooth brush. It is not the ships or planes but nukes that set the balance of power between the West and Russia or China.
The Russian Navy, made up of mostly old WW2 era ships are no match for the most modern Navy on the planet; that of the US. Like it or not there is little the Russians can do about this other then move some ships around the area and make some noise.
@Alex. Your notion that Russia is supporting Iran and Syria for economic reasons is preposterous in the extreme. If economy was their guiding principle, I think Russia would want to please the West rather than Iran and Syria. Russia's military sales to Syria and Iran are probably less than one week of gas sales to Europe or one of tourism earnings from Europe. It is high time that there be democracy in the Arab world. It is Syria's turn to go democratic. All of Syria's neighbors except Jordan are democracies. Even Israel is a democracy as long as you belong to a certain religion.
Russia has taken the moral position of calling for negotiations between the government and the opposition, while the West and it's lackeys like UN and the Arab League are perpetrating fraud by calling on one side to stop violence. This is simply taking sides in the civil war, they are no friends of the Syrian people. West can't afford democracy in the Muslim world, you just saw Tunisia.
Russia is supporting Syria and Iran due to the fact that they are big military spenders of Russian military equipment. Russia is trying to protect its investments. Look what happened in Libya Russia lost billions of dollars, they don't want to have this happen again. Also by sending military ships to Syria first gives them military advantage. No body is stupid enough to confront the Russian navy even United States, it would be seen as a sign of aggression if they did which could lead to more threats and both have Nukes.
If the western powers really wanted to promote democracy they would have gone after the dictatorship style governments in South America (on their own background) or to Africa where pretty much half the continent is still lawless and has the worst human rights record (as worst as the Nazis). It is a strange fact that the western powers want to help promote democracy only in countries that have oil/gas/mineral wealth (Africa has mineral resources but the indigenous population has no access to them, its the European companies doing illegal trade here that makes the maximum profit).
The American and their European allies have practiced information control and in manipulation of the public opinion by feeding false information thereby misleading the international community into thinking that these so called dictators are abusing their power and needed to be removed.
Shame on you all for putting your anti-American prejudices before the safety & well-being of those CIVILIANS involved in Syrian persecution. Bashir's father massacred 35,000 of his own citizens to stop the Syrian people's last attempt for freedom; his son is living up to his legacy, and here people post ONLY anti-American propaganda. Would you support the Russian navy if they were acting as to buffer to the United Nations & NATO while the Indian government systemically imprisoned and slaughtered their own citizens??? Your prejudices blind you to the safety & well-being of those who are dying simply for the universal human right to freedom; freedom of speech, freedom to self-govern, and freedom of religion (for over 30-years Sunni's have been denied the "open practice" of their religion by the Assad's & Alawite government). You ALL TAKE YOUR FREEDOM FOR GRANTED!!!
If it is not settled by ballot, it would be settled by bullet. Very surprised that no party concerned UN, US, EU, Arab League, Russia, China or Turkey has called for an election. Neither have the Syrian Government or the opposition. Syrian situation is very different than most other Arab countries. Number wise, Assad's opponents and supporters are closely matched. A credible election needs to be held. Muslim world is very fortunate to have a media like Al-Jazeera and a leadership like Turkey's that enjoy near universal credibility among them. Syria needs elections, not just monitored but administered by a party with a broad-based trust among the Syrians. We don't want an Afghanistan like fraud perpetrated by the West aided by the UN.
Iran and Syria are both allies of Russia, and in the case of Syria,
Russia has a duty, obligation and responsibility to preserve, protect
and defend allied interests in the region, which apparently, and
rightfully so, require the Russian navy to defend the sovereignty of
the Syrian government from insurgent / NATO-backed regime change
forces acting under the guise of "humanitarianism." It is unfortunate
that Libya, its government and its peoples could not have benefited
from the protection of the Russian fleet. However, in this case, and
although there is civil war in Syria at this time, it is fortunate
that with the Russian fleet in position, those who champion the cause
of a Syrian rebirth of government of, for and by the people will have
the opportunity to fight, and if necessary, die in attaining that
vision and reality without also having to fight corrupt western powers
and the NATO alliance, who know nothing of "freedom, justice and
liberty" or the honor to obtain such virtues.
Force should be met with force, the Americans should send a warship into
the region and tell the Russians to stop this outrageous behaviour or
there will be consequences. Democracy must be protected in the Middle
East.
US and European puppets are using the UN to intimidate countries that
are not align with them. they will murder in disguise of Humanitarian
actions. US and European puppets are the new Nazi killing innocent
civilians. Good job Russia. I hope China will join too
All nations of the world must come together to stop another repeat of Libya where the NATO mis-used the UNSC resolution and killed hundreds of innocent civilians all in the name of furthering democracy while the real intentions lay in controlling the vast oil reserves of Libya. West has been using all types of instruments to depose Asad regime for some time with little success. It's well known that Israel is pushing US to act against Syria. Even if Asad regime is dictatorial, it is for the people of the country to decide and not the neo-colonial powers. Russia is justified in its move to stop a repeat of Libya.
I am very happy to learn that Russia has at last taken some steps to oppose the aggressive posture of the US and its European military satellites.
Russia and China are supporting Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad politically in the UN Security Council. Russia supports Syria militarily also by sending warships to its naval base in Tartus, Syria. India wants to support politically its long time ally Syria, but refrain from overtures. Though India is the biggest democracy in the world, India prefer to support the dictators for lucrative trade deals, ignoring democratic principles internationally. India is trapped under the defunct Non Alignment Movement which includes all dictatorships. The only foreign policy of India is its own fear of Pakistan and China. But the foreign policy of India goes hand in hand with Pakistan and China concerning other countries. The Indian song and dance between the US and Russia is also based on economic and trade reasons. When will India rise up above trade deals with a foreign policy of its own based on democratic principles or any principles without being aligned with Non Aligned Movement?
So the thumb rule is that is American companies build nuclear reactors for any countries they are for the betterment of people, but if Russian companies build nuclear reactor for any country than its bomb factory, is it?
What the Russian Foreign Minister adds is quite right, since the Westerners and their puupets are cunningly awaiting the possibility in order to fish in the troubled water of Syria and yearning to get in touch with the opposite elements of Assad if any. Whether they have already sent warships, it will be better to thwart any intimidation by opposite gangs.
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