Russian FM: Syria crisis produces no winner

There will be no winner in the Syrian conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday. The prolonged crisis will benefit only those who would not like to see Syria as a big influential country in the region, Lavrov said in an interview with local TV channel RTVi broadcast. "We have been trying to calm the situation for a long time," he said. "But the very moment the hope glimpses, someone immediately does everything to kill the hope. There will be no winner." Russia has been negotiating with related parties in Syria, including the government and opposition groups. He slammed the Arab League (AL) and Western countries in the UN Security Council for their attempts to accuse only Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government for the violence. "After the AL's monitors prepared a report that not only the government but also armed opposition violated ceasefire and international humanitarian law, the AL immediately winded up their mission and withdrew the observers," Lavrov said. Meanwhile, the AL has effectively crossed out its own mediatory efforts by its decision to allow arms supply to the opposition in violation of the international rules, he added.