Bulgarian expert calls Putin’s arguments against anti-Syrian operation convincing

Russian President Vladimir Putin cited convincing arguments against the U.S. Administration’s plans to launch a military operation in Syria, Kancho Stoichev, a well-known Bulgarian political and social scientist and a founder the Gallup International Bulgaria company told Itar-Tass Wednesday in a comment on Putin’s interview with the Russian Channel One and the Associated Press. The interview was released earlier on the same day. Stoichev said Putin had made a sharp statement by accusing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry of lies. “I do think Kerry obviously lied in this case, since his assertions on the absence of Al Qaida emissaries in Syria apparently run counter to reality,” he said. “Another strong part of Vladimir Putin’s interview is the one where he demands convincing facts on the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian authorities,” Stoichev said. “His words should be taken seriously because Russia has reliable sources of information in Syria, I think.” “The third important part of Putin’s interview is the demand to provide evidence of the Syrian government’s involvement in an attack on the peaceful population with the aid of chemical weapons and the suggestion that Russia might support a UN resolution on the use of military force should this evidence be provided,” Stoichev said. “These I think are very strong points in the Russian President’s statement.” “Unfortunately, I don’t think these demands will be heeded,” he said. “It’s worthwhile saying that other world leaders abide by the same opinion. Recent public opinion research shows that the majority of Americans speak out against a possible war, too.”