Assad: Moscow to honour weapons deals

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday all weapons contracts with Russia would be completed and only part of them has already been carried out recently. In an interview with Lebanon's Hezbollah Al-Manar TV, al-Assad said: "Everything we have agreed on with Russia will take place, and part of it has already taken place." On advanced anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, he said: "The contracts with Russia are not linked to the crisis and Russia is committed to implementing these contracts." On Geneva II Conference, the Syrian president said his government planned to go to the conference, but he requested that "the only condition is that anything to be implemented will be submitted to Syrian public opinion and a Syrian referendum". Al-Assad added that by taking part in the international gathering, Syria would effectively be negotiating with its international foes backing the opposition.