According to Khabar Online correspondent, following their consultation on the latest developments in the Middle East centered on the current situation of Syria, Ahmadinejad and Medvedev stressed that the ongoing turmoil must be resolved in a peaceful manner without any foreign interference.
They saw foreigners’ moves in Syria as a cause for the continuation of domestic violence and regarded the disintegration of the country against the peace and security in the region.
Syria has been shaken by unrest and armed combat from almost a year ago as demonstrations have been held against the government of Beshar al-Assad . Thousands of people have been killed during clashes since the beginning of the turmoil in March.
The presidents of Iran and Russia maintained that implementation of political and socio-economic reforms through mutual understanding, as well as using peaceful methods without foreigners’ meddling would be the best initiative for improving the critical condition of Syria.
They stressed that the reforms in Syria should be put into practice by Syrians themselves and agreed that Iran and Russia must make more efforts to prevent the intervention of some trans-regional countries [above them the United States by implication] and their Middle Eastern allies which could lead to a civil war and disintegration of Syria.
Syria is the regional ally of both the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia. On December, Iran's Majlis (parliament) passed a bill on free trade with Syria to back the Arabian republic hit by the West's economic sanctions. Iran underlines that Syria has sided with Palestinian Jihad groups resisting against the Zionist regime of Israel and should be supported.
On the other hand, earlier in the month Russia and China vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria that called on President Bashar al-Assad to resign. Thirteen of the council’s fifteen members voted in favor of the resolution.
Russia said the resolution was “unbalanced” and reflected “tendencies that are cause for our concern: attempts to isolate the Syrian leadership, reject any contacts with it and impose a political settlement formula from outside.”
The complexity and sensitivity of Syrian situation is caused by the fact that the country is located in the neighborhood to Lebanon, Israel, Iraq and where Palestinian groups have settled and any unsophisticated move may trigger a widespread clash in the Middle East.
Ahmadinejad and Medvedev emphasized on boosting cooperation, understanding and sympathy between Tehran and Moscow for resolving regional disputes particularly in Syria.
The head of Iranian government asserted that due to the same positions and views, the two neighboring countries, Iran and Russia should adopt more constructive measures to establish peace in the region, and prevent the interference of the foreigners.
Medvedev underscored as well that the developments in Syria must be led by people and government of that country with respect to its national sovereignty.
He added that some trans-regional countries and their allies in the Persian Gulf are to disintegrate Syria as such move would destabilize the situation and would pose a threat to the security of the entire region.
281
