Russian PM calls foreign intervention in Syria as 'criminal action'

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned that any foreign invention in Syria which takes place outside a UN Security Council mandate would be a violation of the UN Charter and a criminal action. “Russia has never supported military solutions where issues can be resolved by other means. In other words, we believe any kind of foreign meddling is unacceptable and criminal, unless it takes place in accordance with the United Nations Charter,” Medvedev said during a meeting with the members of the Oceania-Asia News Agencies (OANA) in Moscow on Friday. “On the very same basis, speaking of strike on Syria is unacceptable,” he reiterated. His remarks came after US President Barack Obama recently said attacking Syria falls under his jurisdiction and authority and stressed that such an attack could take place at any moment, “today, tomorrow or next month”. Medvedev further underlined that “the Syrian people should resolve their problems y themselves and through talks and legal trends”. He also pointed to the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and said, “The situation on the ground is very complicated and the use of chemical weapons has made it even more complex. This incident (the chemical weapons use) should go under precise study. Certainly, the use of chemical weapons by any party is a crime against humanity and should be confronted as an international crime, but investigations should be carried out on the basis of the international law.” “I do believe that the Russia-US talks and the Russian initiative (for the dismantlement of Syria’s chemical weapons) was a prompt action and allowed us to prevent escalation of violence and prevent the use of the military option,” Medvedev continued. Asked by an OANA member to comment on the support extended by certain regional states to terrorism in Syria, the Russian prime minister said, “I believe it is important for every country to realize its responsibility with regard to developments in its neighboring region. Yet, the Russian government believes that this should not be used as a pretext for intervention in the other countries’ domestic affairs.” Medvedev described the UN charter and international law as the solution to the Syrian issue, and said, “We believe that the UN Charter … shows that clashes should be resolved on the basis of international law, and no other way will lead us to our destination.” He reminded the recent wars in the Middle-East, and said they have caused a “spread of terrorist groups like the Al-Qaeda in the region and the world has not grown any safer than the past”. “We believe that talks and chemical weapons disarmament can resolve many problems and all countries, including the great regional states should help to this process, rather than standing against it,” the Russian premier said.