It is necessary that arms imports to all sides in the Syrian conflict are halted, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said in Hannover, adding that Russia is ready to discuss this.
“As for Syria we don’t have a solution yet. What do I think should be done? Halt arms import to the country, but to all sides of the conflict,” he said at the annual industrial fair in Hannover.
Responding to the allegations of Russia supplying weapons to
Syria, Putin said, “We supply the legitimate regime. This is not
prohibited by international law.”
Moscow has repeatedly said that it is only fulfilling contracts
that are already signed, which includes sending only defensive weapons.
On Friday,
talking to German press, the president cited a New York Times
report according to which rebels have recently received 3.5 tons of
weapon and ammunition.
“There are international legal norms stating that it is
unacceptable to supply arms to the armed groups that strive to
destabilize the situation in a certain country with the use of
arms,” Putin said, describing the situation in Syria as “a
disaster” and “a catastrophe.”
“This has to stop,” he concluded.
Earlier Putin said that French President Francois Hollande had
offered several interesting ideas on how to solve the Syrian crisis
when he visited Moscow in February, and Russia is ready to try to
realize them.
The civil conflict has been unfolding in Syria for over two years
now as rebels attempt to displace the country’s ruling President
Bashar Assad.
According to UN estimates over 70,000 civilians died in the
violence.