Russian Foreign Ministry on Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine and Iran

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (MZ below) discussed endless US aggression in Syria without accusing the Obama and Trump regime of the highest of high crimes against peace.

"The situation in Syria remains tense," she said, US-supported terrorists infesting Idlib province the main obstacle to liberating the country, along with the illegal presence of US and other NATO troops on Syrian territory.

Supplied with heavy Western, Israeli, and other foreign weapons, jihadist ranks increased with new recruits, their fighters freely moving back and forth cross-border between Syria and Turkey, makes eliminating them a longterm task.

MZ: Idlib-based terrorists "continue…shelling towns and villages and government army positions. This is resulting in the deaths of Syrian service personnel and civilians."

Endless war rages in its 9th year because the US and its imperial partners oppose resolution, why Russian diplomatic efforts since 2012 largely proved exercises in futility, failing to halt the conflict with no end of it in prospect.

Around 300,000 Syrians returning to their home areas in the past year is a positive sign. So is improved Damascus relations with some Arab states.

Failure to end years of US-orchestrated aggression is the unsettling reality of things on the ground in the country.

Commenting on resumed dialogue between Venezuelan representatives and US-supported fascist opposition elements, MZ said the following:

"We would like to again express hope that the sides, including the opposition, will work energetically and in good faith," adding: 

"We are convinced that only the Venezuelans themselves will be able to find a durable solution to the disagreements that have amassed and jointly put the country back on the path of steady development. The compromise they achieve should be supported by the international community."

Earlier talks in Norway failed because of unacceptable demands no ruling authorities anywhere would accept.

President Maduro is willing to engage with opposition representatives diplomatically — short of surrendering to their extremist aims, wanting fascist tyranny replacing Venezuelan social democracy, what the US demands, supported by establishment media.

For the Trump regime, talks are all about wanting Maduro and his legitimate government replaced by US-controlled puppet rule.

MZ stressed it. Russia stands in solidarity with Maduro and Bolivarian governance. "(C)cooperation with Venezuela (is) in strict conformity with the laws of the two countries," she said, adding: 

"The presence of Russian specialists rather than military (forces) on its territory is regulated by the relevant intergovernmental (2002) agreement and does not change the regional balance of power."

MZ's call on the Trump regime to lift its unlawful sanctions on Venezuela falls on deaf ears in Washington.

"We said this many times but, regrettably, did not receive a sensible answer," she said. Russia knows the US operates by its own rules exclusively, ignoring the rule of law in dealings with other nations.

Commenting on the deplorable situation in Ukraine, no different under Zelensky than his predecessor Poroshenko, MZ explained that Kiev "continue(s) to deliberately destroy civil infrastructure and kill civilians" in Donbass, high crimes of war gone unpunished, adding:

"Ukraine's military command has sanctioned real acts of terror against civilians in the frontline regions. Ukrainian snipers have become more active." 

"Canada, (the EU), and the United States support Kiev's actions by regularly sending various armaments, including sniper and anti-radar systems, and training snipers."

US-orchestrated and supported war in Ukraine's southeast has been raging intermittently for over five years with no end of it in prospect.

Zelensky breached his campaign pledge to end his country's aggression in Donbass. He's a US imperial tool and war criminal like his predecessor, taking orders from Washington, saluting and obeying — betraying the constituents who elected him.

On July 10 at a special IAEA session on the JCPOA at the Trump regime's request, the organization refused support the anti-Iran agenda of its hardliners, MZ commenting as follows about the meeting:

"The IAEA pointed out that (Iran's legitimate increase in the amount and level of its uranium enrichment does) not pose an immediate proliferation risk," adding:

"Washington has unilaterally abandoned all of its obligations and openly violated UNSC Resolution 2231 and Article 25 of the UN Charter." 

"At the same time, Washington continues to demand that Iran strictly comply with all the provisions of the nuclear deal, which the US has torpedoed for more than a year and is trying to prevent the other signatories from honoring it."

"The US position has not been supported by the IAEA, which sharply criticized it. It is obvious that the root cause of the current JCPOA tension is Washington's policy of putting maximum pressure on Tehran based on anti-Iran sentiments and a desire to bring about a change of government in a sovereign state." 

"(T)he overwhelming majority of the IAEA states believe that there is no alternative to the JCPOA, have unilaterally spoken up in its support, and for the continued implementation of the comprehensive agreements."

The US wants the deal rendered null and void, supported by Israel, the Saudis, the UAE, and Britain. 

There's no ambiguity about UK hostility toward Iran — shown by unlawfully seizing an Iranian tanker, falsely accusing its IRGC of attempting a hostile action against a UK tanker, deploying warships to the Persian Gulf, and supporting hostile Trump regime actions against Tehran.

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