The Russian ambassador in Paris said that Assad “agrees to go” “but in a civilized manner”

  …by Radio France International, Paris

Paris (RFI) The Russian ambassador to France, Alexander Orlov, said Friday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, “agrees to go” but “in a civilized manner”, in an interview with Radio France International (RFI) in Paris.

When asked, “Do not you think that Bashar Assad is now already condemned to fall and it is no longer a matter of time?”, The diplomat replied:

“I personally agree with you. I think it will be difficult for him to stay after all that happened. ”

June 30, the final communiqué of the meeting of the Task Force on Syria in Geneva “provided for a transition to more democratic” and “the final statement was accepted by Assad,” said Mr. Orlov.

“Assad has appointed its representative for negotiations with the opposition on this transition. That is to say, he agrees to go. But from a civilized way,” he said.

Russia has always said that so far the fate of Bashar al-Assad could be decided by the Syrian people without foreign interference, unlike Westerners who call for his departure.

Thursday, Moscow and Beijing have opposed the third time a veto on the UN attempts to pressure the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, since the conflict began in Syria 16 months ago. This blockage has triggered sharp criticism from the United States and European countries who had proposed this text.

Mr. Orlov said “there can be a political solution to the conflict” in Syria and that “we must find the path of negotiations.”

The Russian ambassador in France ensures that the Russians have done everything that depended on them to assist the mediator Kofi Annan carry out his plan “which opened and always opens the way to peace, to the negotiated solution.”

http://fr.news.yahoo.com/syrie-lambassadeur-russe-%C3%A0-paris-affirme-quassad-accepte-084903563.html

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Both the Russian and Syrian Foreign Ministries have retracted these statements.  However, the French sources are solid and the story has obviously destroyed Assad’s negotiating position.

We consider the story true, the source reliable and the statements to be poorly timed but not retractable.

Editing:  Jim W. Dean