Russia Defends Deal to Supply Air Defence Systems to Syria

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　　Russia has defended that his country's anti-aircraft missile deal with Syria is legal and in line with international norms.

 

　　Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov.

 

　　"First, the contract on S-300s is absolutely legal, it's transparent¹ and it's fully² in line with the international norms and with the Russian export control legislation. Second, the contract hasn't been yet finalised. Third, the Americans are leaving Patriots³ after this exercise in Jordan, together with F-16 planes, and no one is asking them not to do this."

 

　　Russia signed a contract for the delivery of state-of-the art S-300 air defence missile systems to Syria, which has yet to be fulfilled.

 

　　Lavrov added that U.S. discussions about a possible no-fly zone in particular has encouraged the opposition⁴ to step up fighting instead of sitting down for talks.

 

　　"We must avoid confrontational⁵ debates and one-sided resolutions in the (United Nations) General Assembly and in the Human Rights Council because all this is not helping⁶ to create the atmosphere necessary to convene⁷ a conference."

 

　　At the recent G8 summit in Northern Ireland, international leaders backed calls for Syrian peace talks to be held in Geneva soon.

 

　　However, a timetable for the talks has yet to be agreed upon.

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