Russia is ready to support various approaches to resolving the situation in Syria, but they should not be based on a unilateral condemnation of the Syrian authorities’ response to the popular uprising, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview with Euronews.
A “stern message” to end the bloodshed in Syria should be addressed to both sides in the conflict, “because the situation there isn’t sterile,” Medvedev said.
“Those who shout the anti-government slogans are not solely supporters of a refined European democracy. These are very diverse people,” the president said, adding: “Some of them are, frankly, extremists. Some of them may even be called terrorists.”
“The situation shouldn’t be idealized; instead, we must proceed based on the balance of forces and interests,” he said.
Medvedev also said Russia was “not completely satisfied” with how United Nations Resolution 1973 on Libya was implemented.
“Now it’s in the past, because, apparently, the situation in Libya has changed,” he said. “Even so, we believe that the mandate from the Libya Resolution 1973, was exceeded.”
Russia has repeatedly criticized the bombing of Libya by a NATO-led coalition, saying that it was overstepping a UN mandate to protect Libyan civilians.
“We definitely wouldn’t want the same thing happening regarding Syria,” Medvedev said.