China and Russia oppose military intervention in Syria

On May 30, China once again affirmed its opposition to military intervention in Syria, while Russia said it would be "hasty" for the United Nations Security Council to consider new measures to deal with the crisis in the context of the West continuing to increase pressure on Damascus.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said Beijing opposes military intervention in Syria and the use of force to change the regime in Damascus.

According to the spokesman, China calls on all parties to implement the peace plan of the United Nations-Arab League (AL) joint special envoy Kofi Annan, seeking to end bloody conflicts through negotiations.

Illustrative photo. (Source: AFP/VNA)

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said that considering new measures by the UN Security Council on the Syrian crisis at this time would be hasty. According to him, the core thing is to need more time for the peace plan of the joint special envoy Annan to be fully implemented. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister also stressed that international parties, including Western countries, need to put appropriate pressure on the opposition. At the same time, this official also reiterated Moscow's stance against foreign intervention in the Syrian crisis.

Gatilov’s comments came a day after the US State Department said on May 29 that Washington hoped the massacre that killed at least 116 people in the central Syrian town of Houla last week would mark a turning point in Moscow’s opposition to taking stronger action against the Syrian government.

In Damascus, during a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, special envoy Annan urged the Syrian leader to take immediate action to end 15 months of bloody conflict. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Annan said he called on President Assad to take strong measures now to create momentum for implementing the six-point peace plan. Mr. Annan, who had previously warned that Syria could fall into civil war, also conveyed to President Assad the international community's deep concerns about the violence in Syria, including the shocking massacre in the town of Houla.

After French President Francois Hollande said on May 29 that he could not rule out military intervention in Syria to end the crisis, Australia said on May 30 that it was ready to discuss such a measure. Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said that the country "will discuss" France's proposal to use force, but like French President Hollande, Mr. Ca said that such action "requires unanimity in the Security Council". In addition, the Australian Foreign Minister also emphasized that "a ceasefire, a political dialogue and a political solution are what we want most."

May 30 also saw more countries expel Syrian ambassadors in protest of the massacre in the town of Houla. The Japanese Foreign Ministry said the government had asked the Syrian ambassador in Tokyo to leave Japan “as soon as possible.”

Speaking at a press conference, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said the decision was made because violence against civilians was continuing in Syria despite international criticism. However, he stressed that Tokyo would maintain diplomatic relations with Damascus. Meanwhile, Turkey has demanded that all Syrian diplomats leave the country within 72 hours. Turkey was once an ally of Syria but relations with Damascus have been strained since the bloody crisis in Syria erupted in March last year./.

According to (TTXVN)- DT