Putin Says Syria Needs 'Peaceful Political Solution'
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Syria needed dialogue between the regime and opposition rather than foreign intervention to ensure a lasting peace.
"I am convinced that we must do everything possible to force the conflicting sides to find a peaceful political solution to all the disputed issues," Putin told foreign dignitaries in a televised address.
"Of course, this is more difficult and delicate work than the crude use of outside force. But only this can ensure a long-term settlement and the future stable development of the situation in the region," he said.
Putin also repeated his earlier warnings against powers ordering armed intervention against Moscow's Soviet-era ally without prior approval from the U.N. Security Council on which Russia wields veto power.
"We will continue to firmly defend the principles of the U.N. Security Council charter. We will make sure that in cases when forced intervention is needed, the decision can only be taken by the U.N. Security Council," said Putin.
"Supplanting such decisions with unilateral sanctions can only be counterproductive."
Source: Agence France Presse
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