 Russia said yesterday assertions by Washington that Syria had ties to terrorism could destabilize the Middle East. Moscow also again denied reports that it plans to sell missiles to Syria, whose President Bashar Assad is due to visit Russia next week. The reports have sparked concern in Israel, which says they could be launched against it. US Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice warned Syria earlier this week that it faced new sanctions because of its suspected interference in Iraq and ties to terrorism. Russia's Foreign Ministry sprang to Syria's defense, calling the Arab state one of its "most important partners" in the Middle East. "It's well-known that slapping labels on countries and unilaterally describing certain states as part of the 'axis of evil' has not improved anyone's security," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko told Interfax news agency.
| How well known is it, Alexander? |
"Syria is one of the key players in the region and resumption of talks with Israel on the Syrian question is important in the context of the Middle East peace process," he said. Israeli and Russian media last week reported that Moscow wants to sell SA-18 shoulder-fired missiles and Iskander-E ground-to-ground missiles, which would bring most of Israel into Syria's range.
| Syria's the backer of a number of terror groups, who've maintained headquarters in Damascus — now on and off, of course. But I don't think Baby Assad should worry too much, unless his backing of the Iraqi Bad Boyz pushes us over the edge. As a semi-colony of Iran, they're probably on the list after the ayatollahs. Of course, when the ayatollahs go, so do the Baathists in Syria, and probably without us having to dismantle them. |
Yakovenko denied that but told Interfax that Russia's "wide-ranging" ties with Syria did include military cooperation. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov denied already last week that Moscow was in talks with Syria over arms sales. |