Dushanbe, April 24 (RHC)-- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that the presence of observers from the UN monitoring mission in Syria are a positive force.

Following a meeting with the Tajik authorities, the Russian foreign minister said that "“the mission has already played a positive role,” emphasizing that he hoped the number of observers will soon be increased to 300, in line with the United Nations Security Council resolution.”

Speaking with reporters, Lavrov said that "the more observers in the mission, the more objective information we will have.”  The Russian top diplomat noted that -- in his words -- "there is regrettably too much speculation in the media, referring to sources that are not always trustworthy.”

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that he hopes those who are trying to wreck the United Nations mission in Syria will be prevented from carrying out their plans.  Lavrov reiterated Moscow's opinion that the main responsibility for safety and order in the country was with the Syrian government, but noted that "Syrian authorities have been confronted by not only peaceful protesters, who certainly have the right to express their opinions, but also armed groups, which commit terror attacks."

Lavrov repeated Russia's belief there were forces outside Syria that expected to undermine Kofi Annan's peace plan for the country.

Share this article