The UN independent Commission of inquiry on human rights violations in Syria, which reported on the crimes of the official Damascus forces in Idlib, can not be responsible for the accuracy of the information distributed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told, opening talks with the Foreign Ministers of the African Union Troika (DRC, Egypt, South Africa), which was held as a video-conference.
"We proceed from the exceptional need to resolve and consider any issues related to the Syrian or any other conflict only on the basis of concrete facts, on the basis of providing information for which the relevant structure can be responsible," Lavrov said. "This independent commission cannot be responsible for its statements, as has been proven many times."
The Russian Foreign Minister recalled that the commission was created by a non-consensual decision, and its task, according to Lavrov, is to " look for dirt on Damascus and those who are called allies of Damascus." In addition, the commission itself has never been to Idlib, he stated.
"This so-called independent commission uses facts gleaned from social networks, from certain sources, which they ask to remain anonymous, citing security reasons," the Minister said. "These are the same methods that the OPCW is currently using, when just these days our Western colleagues are trying to push the adoption of a resolution that will be based on a report prepared in gross violation of the Convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons."
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS