June 4, 2011

Russia concerned about attempts to present conflict in Syria as intl conflict – Lavrov

ODESSA: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the Western countries of trying to present the conflict in Syria as an international conflict.

“We cannot be concerned about the attempts to present the situation in Syria as an international conflict, which are made by our Western partners,” Lavrov told a press conference in Odesa on Saturday.

The Russian minister said he believes the international community needs to call on the conflicting parties in Syria and other countries of the region to be calm.

“The attempts to politicize the situation in this or that country, even if it is not developing very favorably, will only increase tensions and make settlement more difficult,” Lavrov said.