The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned against allowing the repetition of the Libyan Scenario in Syria.
Russia Today website quoted Lavrov in a meeting for foreign ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the Chinese capital of Beijing as saying that foreign interference by using force in internal conflicts and unilateral sanctions might increase chaos in the regional affairs just like what happened in Libya.
He stressed the importance of enhancing the UN central role and preserving the rule of law in international affairs.
Russia Calls on Security Council to Focus on Resolving the Issue of Smuggling Weapons into Syria
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich called on the Security Council to focus its efforts on resolving the issue of smuggling weapons into Syria.
Regarding the seizing of the ship Lutfallah 2 in Lebanon which was carrying weapons to terrorists in Syria, Lukashevich said that Russia had always warned against smuggling weapons to Syria and the repercussions of such steps.
He said hat arming illegitimate extremist groups contradicts Kofi Annan's plan for resolving the Syrian crisis, including the main articles on halting violence and establishing dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition.
Lukashevich stressed that arming extremist groups is very dangerous, especially given the mobilization of units affiliated with international terrorist and extremist networks.
He explained that the issue of the ship contains blatant violations of several Security Council resolutions, mainly decisions no. 1970 on imposing sanctions on Libya and no. 1701 on prohibiting the exporting of weapons to Lebanon other than those approved by the Lebanese government.
"Therefore, we believe that the Security Council must focus on resolving this issue... the international community must block thosw who continue to pour oil on the fire of the Syrian internal crisis," Lukashevich said.
He said that what is known so far is that Lutfallah 2 sailed from Libya through Alexandria under the flag of Sierra Leone, carrying several containers containing light firearms and, according to Lebanese media, French grenade launchers similar to those used by Libyan gunmen and a large amount of explosives, adding that the transport of this cargo was supervised by a Syrian, and that the ship's crew, which consist of 8 Syrians, 2 Egyptians and one Indian, were arrested.
Lukashevich said that this smuggling operation wasn't one of a kind, as a search of a ship in Tripoli, Lebanon, a few days ago revealed a large amount of ammo and explosives concealed in cars.
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2012
