Mansour from Russia: Syrian Crisis Not Linked to Opposition, But Settling Scores with Regime

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour stated on Monday that the developments in Syria are not linked to the country’s opposition, reported the National News Agency.

He said: “The crisis is an excuse to settle scores with the ruling regime.”

He made his statements from Russia where he held talks with the General Secretary of the Russian National Council Nicolai Patrushev on the situation in Lebanon, Syria, and the rest of the Arab world.

The minister added: “Russia’s credibility in the Arab world is very important due to its constant support to Arab causes and legitimate decisions of states.”

Syria has been witnessing unprecedented revolts against the ruling regime, which has been met with a crackdown by the government, leaving over 9,000 dead.

Talks between Mansour and Patrushev also addressed Lebanese-Russian bilateral ties, especially in the economic and tourism sectors.

The minister had also visited the Lebanese Embassy in Moscow.

He is scheduled to hold talks on Tuesday with his counterpart Sergei Lavrov and the Chairman of the Duma's International Affairs Committee Alexei Pushkov.

Russia and China has twice opposed a United Nations Security Council resolution to condemn the violence in Syria, rejecting any form of foreign intervention to end the crisis.