Lavrov: West sees need for joint Syria settlement

Western countries have begun realizing the necessity of joint efforts to settle the ongoing Syrian crisis, rather than blaming Russia for the current situation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday. “The temptation to put artificial blame on us for what is going on in Syria is now abating. There is now more understanding that it is necessary to act jointly and influence and exert pressure on those who are fighting in Syria,” Lavrov said at a UN security Council meeting in New York. Russia is ready to endorse a UN resolution on Syria only on the basis of the five principles agreed with the Arab League, he said earlier at the conference. These principles include an end to the violence, setting up monitoring mechanisms, unhindered humanitarian aid supplies to all Syrians, support for UN special envoy Kofi Annan's mission in the country, and non-interference in Syria’s internal affairs. More than 7,500 people have been killed since the uprising against Bashar al-Assad began a year ago. The government blames the violence on "terrorists and armed gangs." According to latest reports, the Syrian government’s crackdown on the opposition has intensified, with dozens of people killed in Homs and another opposition stronghold in Idlib province, in the past 24 hours.