Kremlin: Russia can change its chance on Syria if it understands that Assad is cheating

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Russia can change its stance on Syria if it understands that Bashar Assad is cheating, Sergei Ivanov, the head of the Russian presidential administration, said.

"I am now saying theoretically and hypothetically, but we can change our stance if we become confident that Assad is cheating," Ivanov said at the plenary session of the 10th conference of the London international institute of strategic research Global Strategic Overview held in Stockholm.

At the same time, he suggested thinking about another hypothetical scenario: if it turns out that the chemical weapons were used both by the official Damascus and the opposition.

"I imagine what the world community will do in that case," Ivanov said. Speaking about what Russia may do in such a situation, Ivanov said: "Only diplomatically. What else can we do?"

There may be "some pretext" for war on Assad if chemical arms scrapped - Ivanov

Syria may still be in danger of a military strike from abroad if it fulfills its commitment to scrap all its chemical weapons because there may be "some other pretext" for war, the Kremlin's top aide said.

Sergei Ivanov, president Vladimir Putin's chief of staff, said in a program on Saturday on Russia's Rossiya television that he had been asked once whether it meant that President Bashar al-Assad's government was safe against a foreign military strike if "the chemical weapons in Syria are destroyed and that is verified, if no one has any questions and if there remains not a gram of chemicals - sarin or anything else."

"I answered honestly, no it doesn't. There will be some other pretext, I can't rule this out," Ivanov said. However, he said, "it will be a significant result per se if the Russian initiative, which has been approved by the United States, to destroy the chemical weapons, the weapons of mass destruction, in Syria is successful in the sense that one more country will have joined the international convention for their destruction."

He pointed out that, under international law, the go-ahead from the UN Security Council is needed for any military action against the Syrian government.

Geneva 2 cannot be avoided in Syrian issue - Kremlin

Sergei Ivanov also said he believes a Geneva 2 conference is needed for settling the crisis in Syria.

"Geneva 2 cannot be avoided," Ivanov told reporters in Stockholm.

Ivanov said the US has started increasing its efforts o draw "reasonable Syrian opposition" to this conference.

"The word opposition is very condition in the case of Syria. The opposition is extremely diverse there. Various units of the opposition were fighting yesterday. Everyone is fighting everyone in Syria," Ivanov said.

Such "reasonable" opposition can and should be talked to, Ivanov said, adding that he believes terrorists who are fighting in Syria are not interested in any negotiations.

Russia doesn't accept division of Syria, considers this issue internal affair of Syria - Ivanov

Russia does not accept the division of Syria and believes it is an internal affair of Syria, Sergei Ivanov, the head of the Russian presidential administration, told reporters in Stockholm.

"No. we don't accept it. However, it's an internal affair of Syria. We can't influence it. But I already said that Christians are being killed there," Ivanov said.

Russia will not use its right of veto in UN Security Council on Syria "on principle" - Ivanov

Russia is not going to keep using its right of veto in the UN Security Council "on principle," Sergei Ivanov told reporters at a security conference in Stockholm on Saturday.

Ivanov recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about it in the meeting of the discussion club in Valdai.

Ivanov said that, if it becomes clear who used chemical weapons in Syria, "it will be a totally different issue."

"However, it needs to be proved. Until it hasn't been proven our stance remains as it is," Ivanov said.

Issue of cost, dates of Syrian chemical weapons destruction can be clarified in 2-3 months - Sergei Ivanov

Sergei Ivanov also said he believes the issue of the dates and cost of the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons will be clarified in 2-3 months.

"Maybe in 2-3 months it will finally become clear how much time it will take, how it will be done technologically, and how much it will cost. However, no one can currently answer this question specifically," Ivanov said in Stockholm on Saturday.

Ivanov also said he believes the diplomatic method of resolving the Syrian issue is very productive.

"The past week showed that diplomacy can achieve certain successes," he said.

"Even if the world community manages to full liquidate the Syrian chemical weapons, it doesn't mean that the conflict will end at that. However, I am deeply convinced that even fulfilling the first task is a very positive result and a signal to the whole world," Ivanov said.

Ivanov recalled that Syria has begun providing "information on its chemical arsenal to the OPCW.

"That shows clearly Syrian President Bashar Assad is fulfilling the agreements and is keeping his word," Ivanov said.

Opposition will lose interest in negotiations in case of attack on Syria - Kremlin

The opposition will lose interest in further negotiations in case of military invasion to Syria, said the head of the Russian presidential administration Sergei Ivanov.
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