Sec. Clinton: Russia’s Support of Syria ‘Has Strengthened the Assad Regime’
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Win McNamee/Getty Images(OSLO, Norway) — Speaking to reporters Friday in Oslo, Norway, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hit back on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claims that weapons Russia continues to ship to Syria are not being used in the country’s conflict.
“We know that there has been a very consistent arms trade, even during this last year of violence in Syria, coming from Russia to Syria,” said Clinton who reiterated her statement Thursday about Russian support strengthening the Assad regime. “We also believe that the continuing supply of arms from Russia has strengthened the Assad regime.”
But Putin denied claims that his country is providing any support to the Assad regime or the the violence in Syria.
“Those who say that Russia unilaterally supports the Assad regime are mistaken. We and Syria have maintained good relations for years, but we do not support either party from which a civil war threat emanates,” Putin told reporters at a press conference Friday after meeting with German Chancellor Merkel.
He also defended Russia’s massive arms deals with the embattled country, which have continued over the past year, saying: “Russia is not shipping weapons that could be used in a civil conflict.”
Clinton admitted that the U.S. cannot “speak with accuracy” as to what the arms Russia continues to supply are being used for, but still chastised Russia for continuing to trade with Assad. “The fact that Russia has continued to sustain this trade in the face of efforts by the international community to impose sanctions and to prevent further arms flowing to the Assad regime and in particular the Syrian military has raised serious concerns,” she said.
Putin said Friday that he still believes a political resolution is possible, adding that he does not believe it can be settled by force. He pledged Russia’s support to find a peaceful solution to the crisis and said the Annan plan is the only way forward. He said Russia is not prepared to take any unilateral steps to end the conflict.
At the same time, Clinton said the U.S. and its allies are willing to work with Russia to get all parties in Syria to implement Kofi Annan’s six point peace plan.
“If Russia is prepared, as President Putin’s remarks seems to suggest, to work with the international community to come together to plan a political transition, we will certainly be ready to cooperate,” Clinton said Friday.
Clinton confirmed that she spoke with Annan two days ago and will be speaking again with Russia’s Foreign Minister soon.
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