Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the decisions taken by the Arab League yesterday on Syria, affirming that they were illegal, slamming at the decision taken by the UN Human Rights council on Syria, describing it as "politicized."

Russia Today Website quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich as saying that what happened in the Arab Summit in Doha and the decisions that were made in it despite some members' objection raise questions and cause surprise.

He said that these decisions constitute a clear and undisputed encouragement for the forces that are still betting on a military solution for the crisis in Syria, heedless of the suffering of Syrians.

Lukashevich said that the Arab League's decisions on Syria violate international law, since the Syrian government was and still is the country's representative at the UN, affirming that these decisions contradict the concept of peaceful political settlement according to the Geneva statement which stipulates for reaching agreement between the Syrian government and all opposition groups, not confront the legitimate Syrian government with another structure legitimized by foreign sides.

He added that the mission of UN Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Ibrahimi has collapsed, stressing that Moscow is confident that only political settlement can end bloodshed and achieve peace and security in Syria, not encouraging destructive military scenarios.

Lukashevich asserted that Russia will continue exerting all possible efforts to realize a political settlement, urging relevant regional and international sides to do likewise.

On the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Syria, Lukashevich said "unfortunately this document, as other previous decisions, bears a politicized, unbalanced feature as responsibility for what has happened are blamed on the government side while the war crimes, explosions and others acts of the armed illegal groups are deliberately disregarded."

Gatilov: UN Mission for Investigating Chemical Weapons Use in Syria Could Be Formed in the Next Few Days

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said that the UN technical mission for investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria could be formed within the next few days.

In statements to journalists, Gatilov said that the issue is currently begin addressed by the UN Secretary-General who is forming the mission and who promised that it will be balanced, noting that the mission won't necessarily contain representatives of the five permanent Security Council members, but it should be balanced in general.

He said that as far as he knows, this issue will be settled within the next few days, and that Russia had voiced readiness to send a Russian expert to take part in the mission, as did China.

On the other side, Gatilov said that Moscow doesn't see any basis for giving Syria seat at the UN to the Syrian opposition.





"We believe there is no justification for that as there is a legitimate representative for Syria at the UN which is the Syrian government, and at the current time changing Syria representation at the UN is not proposed," Gatilov added.






Churkin: Giving Syria's seat at the Arab League Doha Coalition is of no help to solution

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, criticized giving Syria's seat at the Arab League (AL) to the opposition 'Doha Coalition', saying this is of no help to the efforts seeking a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

"This means that the Arab League has got out of the process of searching for a political settlement to the crisis," Churkin was quoted by Russia Today website as saying in a statement.

He added that the AL, in dealing with the Syrian issue, "has form the very beginning come under the influence of certain extremist forces and countries with special agendas."

He pointed out that handing Syria's seat to the 'Doha Coalition' contradicts the laws, stressing that Syria's membership in the AL was not dropped but only suspended.

"The issue of freezing Syria's AL membership from the start indicated that the AL is not inclined towards a serious negotiated solution," said the Russian official.

He cited other steps taken by the AL which raised Moscow's wonder, referring particularly to the AL resolution in 2011 to send observers to Syria and then terminating their mission when they conveyed objective information on the events in the country