(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - “So far, the arsenal is under control. The Syrian authorities have gathered all the stock in one or two locations. It used to be scattered all over the country,” said the Russian foreign minister, adding that intelligence agencies of Moscow and Washington agree on the issue.
“Our American partners admit that the main threat is rebels seizing the chemical arsenal. The opposition forces include all kinds of groups even ones the U.S. has recently proclaimed terror groups. We tell them: ‘Guys but you support the opposition and its armed struggle. This armed struggle might result in exactly what you fear. You decide on your priorities.’ But there is no clear response to that,” said Lavrov.
The West has been critical of Russia and China for using their veto power at the Security Council to block three resolutions aimed at tightening the noose around the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
On Friday, Lavrov denounced Western countries for supporting the militants fighting government forces in Syria.
“Our Western colleagues have started dividing terrorists into 'bad' and 'acceptable.' That is very dangerous,” he said.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Damascus says outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists are the driving factor behind the unrest and deadly violence while the opposition accuses the security forces of being behind the killings.
Western states have been calling for Assad to step down. However, Russia and China are strongly opposed to the Western drive to oust Assad.
The Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the armed militants are foreign nationals, mostly from Egypt, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia.
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