Putin Tells West to 'Draw Lessons,' Stop Interfering
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday world powers should draw lessons from their mistakes and stop interfering in crisis-hit nations of North Africa and the Middle East.
Putin did not address the raging conflict in Syria directly and appeared to be referring to the overall threat of the use of force that has also been applied by Israel and the United States to Iran over its nuclear program.
Interference from abroad "is fraught with instability and chaos," Putin told a Kremlin ceremony for newly arriving ambassadors in televised remarks.
"In recent years, life has taught us the truth of what we have been saying. It is time to finally draw lessons from what is happening," the Russian leader said.
Putin has in recent years fought bitterly with the West over its air campaign against close ally Libya and efforts to force Syrian strongman leader Bashar Assad -- a key purchaser of Russian arms -- to step down.
Russia has also condemned Israel for threatening the use of force in Iran and attempted to position itself as the defender of international law at the United Nations.
But its veto of three U.N. Security Council resolutions on Syria has been roundly condemned by both European powers and the United States. Moscow's ties with key Arab nations have also suffered since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011.
Source: Agence France Presse
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