No change in plans to get S-300 systems :Syria

No change in plans to get S-300 systems :Syria
Mon Jul 22, 2013 18:53:44

Russia’s plans to supply Syria with the sophisticated S-300 air defense systems are still in place, Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil has said.

"All agreements between Russia and Syria in the area of arms deliveries are in place," Jamil said after meeting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Monday.

Russia has refused to halt military and other cooperation with the Damascus government throughout the Syria conflict.

Moscow also condemns the West for openly siding with the rebels.

"Relations between Syria and Russia are strengthening for the good of peace in the region," Jamil added.

He also stated that Russia and Syria are discussing the possibility of Moscow extending a loan to Damascus.

"We discussed it, although it is still early to talk of concrete figures," Jamil said, adding, "We hope the question will be solved by the end of the year, experts are now discussing it."

The Syrian official hoped for an agreement on the loan by the end of the year.

Lavrov, for his part, said Russia was pressing on with efforts to hold a peace conference to end the bloodshed in Syria as soon as possible.

He blamed the Syrian opposition for holding up the international conference in Geneva.

"We are continuing to meet with the government and all opposition groups to convince them all to accept the Russian-American initiative to convene the international conference as soon as possible," Lavrov said.

"Unfortunately, most of the opposition including the (main umbrella group) Syrian National Coalition, in contrast to the government, is not showing this readiness," he added.

The war in Syria started in March 2011, when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following intervention of western and regional states.

The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history.

As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government boosts its political and military support to Takfiri extremists.

Washington has remained indifferent about warnings by Russia and other world powers about the consequences of arming militant groups.

SHI/SHI

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