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Last update - 00:03 25/08/2008
U.S. to Syria: Do not meddle in Russia-Georgia conflict
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service
Tags: Syria, Bashar Assad, Russia

Senior U.S. officials severely criticized Syria on Thursday after Syrian President Bashar Assad voiced his country's support of Russia in its military conflict with Georgia, saying that Syria should keep out of issues that don't pertain to them.

The officials suggested that Syria refrain from meddling in the affairs of other nations, "such as Georgia," Channel 10 reported Thursday. They added that Syria should remain focused on its own problems in the Middle East and keep trying to achieve peace in the region.

Earlier Thursday, Assad backed Russia's military action against Georgia at talks with President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday.
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Syria, a foe of Israel in the Middle East which stands accused by the United States of supporting international terrorism, is only the second country after Belarus to voice public support for Russia's military operation in Georgia.

"We understand the essence of the Russian position and its military response," Assad told Medvedev at the start of their meeting in the Kremlin leader's Black Sea residence, Bocharov Ruchei.

"We believe Russia was responding to the Georgian provocation," the Syrian president said.

Russia drew Western condemnation, led by the United States, when it mounted a crushing military offensive in response to Georgia's attempt two weeks ago to recapture the rebel, pro-Russian province of South Ossetia.

Moscow says it was forced to act to avert bloodshed in South Ossetia and defend Russian nationals and peacekeepers from the Georgian attack, though Tbilisi says Moscow engineered the conflict.

"I want to express my support for the Russian position in [the breakaway regions of] Abkhazia and South Ossetia....We oppose attempts to tarnish Russia's position," Assad said.

Meanwhile Thursday, Russian media on Thursday quoted Assad as saying ahead of a two day visit to Moscow that Syria was ready to negotiate hosting Russian surface-to-surface Iskander missiles on its soil, which Moscow says are capable of penetrating any missile defense.

Syria is interested in purchasing Russia's Pantsyr-S1 air defense missile system, the BUK-M1 surface-to-air medium-range missile system, military aircraft and other hardware, the Russian news agency Interfax quoted a diplomatic source as saying.

According to Russian media, Assad offered to host the Russian missiles as a response to a deal signed by Washington and Warsaw this week to deploy elements of a U.S. missile defense system in Poland, which has aggravated Moscow's relations with the West.

Assad's visit is likely to become an additional irritant for Washington. In the past, the United States has more than once warned Moscow against selling arms to its longstanding ally Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, asked by reporters about plans to sell Iskander missiles and other modern weapons to Syria, said: "We are ready to consider requests from the Syrian side on buying more arms.

"We are indeed prepared to sell only defensive weapons which are not breaking the regional balance of powers," he said.

Lavrov said arms sales were part of Thursday's talks, but did not elaborate.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni tried to dissuade Moscow from closing arms deals with Syria, telling reporters in Jerusalem "it is a mutual interest of Russia, of Israel and of the pragmatic leaders and states in the region not to send long-range missiles to Syria."

Livni cited Syria's links with Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, as reasons to avoid signing any number of rumored arms deals, including deals involving anti-aircraft and anti-tank missile systems.

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  • Russia plans to pull out of Georgia buffer zone by Friday evening
  • On eve of Assad visit to Moscow, Israel and Russia discuss security
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      1.   Self Determination 15:30  |  MIKE 21/08/08
      2.   tell me who is your friend and I tell you who you are 15:55  |  Vitaly 21/08/08
      3.   Two sovereign countries 16:52  |  UN Man 21/08/08
      4.   Part 2 16:56  |  UN MAn 21/08/08
      5.   Livni: Israel`s Madeline Albright -- "blah blah blah, blah blah" 17:06  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 21/08/08
      6.   No 2 Vitaly ..Names of Friends of Russia 17:17  |  sohel saheen 21/08/08
      7.   How come? 17:36  |  Vlad 21/08/08
      8.   #7 Vlad 17:52  |  MarkC 21/08/08
      9.   Israel must never allow.... 18:10  |  R 21/08/08
      10.   The Tides Are Turning. 18:19  |  Cool B 21/08/08
      11.   3&4 UN Man, your analysis is correct. I want to add that 18:57  |  lakshmi 21/08/08
      12.   simply bomb them first 19:10  |  frenz 21/08/08
      13.   To MarkC 19:16  |  Tug 21/08/08
      14.   Remember what happened to Syria`s secret nuclear plant 19:24  |  The Equalizer 21/08/08
      15.   HAHAHAHAH 19:25  |  ID 21/08/08
      16.   As Russia buries their dead from Israeli weapons/training 19:27  |  Pablo B 21/08/08
      17.   iran and russia on the same side? 19:30  |  montgomery rosen 21/08/08
      18.   One important Fact 19:43  |  DD 21/08/08
      19.   #11 Lakshmi 19:49  |  X-Military 21/08/08
      20.   american congress 19:54  |  bri 21/08/08
      21.   #11 Lakshmi part 2 19:59  |  X-Military 21/08/08
      22.   sp paublo are you saying you support what russia did in georgia? 20:17  |  terrornator 21/08/08
      23.   Lakshmi and Pablo B 20:22  |  X-Military 21/08/08
      24.   Russia suspending ties with NATO 20:27  |  Mark B. 21/08/08
      25.   X-Military - Ofcourse 20:33  |  Vladamir 21/08/08
      26.   X-Military - you would think Russia declared war on Israel 20:51  |  Pablo B 21/08/08
      27.   the Syrians have fallen into a big trap 21:00  |  Holbrooke 21/08/08
      28.   2 big hypocrites 21:10  |  utagawa 21/08/08
      29.   Syria also hosting Israeli missiles 21:13  |  utagawa 21/08/08
      30.   Act Now 21:19  |  Danite 21/08/08
      31.   Missiles? 21:20  |  P. J. Casey 21/08/08
      32.   Holbrook - Iran has ties to China too. 21:29  |  Pablo B 21/08/08
      33.   Looks like a done deal & more trouble for us as Russia seeks... 21:30  |  bat yam 21/08/08
      34.   syria to russia 21:42  |  Shmuelshachor 21/08/08
      35.   missles in syria 21:54  |  k. gaye 21/08/08
      36.   COOL B 22:00  |  K. GAYE 21/08/08
      37.   To 6 Shel-Italy. Friends. 22:08  |  Vital 21/08/08
      38.   Russia-Iran vs US-Isarel 22:09  |  Persian Hero 21/08/08
      39.   UN man that you can equate the totalitarian anti semitic 22:20  |  Jewish American-USA 21/08/08
      40.   Cool B, those weapons will never make it. and the last 22:25  |  Jack be quick 21/08/08
      41.   Just shows ou how Syria and russia ar still fighting the 22:29  |  Shocked 21/08/08
      42.   Persian Hero u forget who won the cold war. The west will 22:41  |  steve-NYC 21/08/08
      43.   Syria is asking for it 23:08  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/08/08
      44.   Israel`s unending infatuation with Assad 23:13  |  Ronny 21/08/08
      45.   Nice group of friends! 23:52  |  Rafa 21/08/08
      46.   # 42 CJK 23:56  |  Axel 21/08/08
      47.   Syria has much to loose if Russian installs missiles in Syria 23:59  |  abem 21/08/08
      48.   Syria:Strop supporting Russia or WHAT? 00:05  |  Samy 22/08/08
      49.   The weakening West 00:07  |  Rusty Shackleford 22/08/08
      50.   Blog 00:18  |  Mark Spitz 22/08/08
      51.   World to U.S., stop meddling. 00:24  |  Michael 22/08/08
      52.   To US: Stop meddling with entire world! 00:47  |  Sam 22/08/08
      53.   Syria to US: Do not meddle in Russia-Syria pacts. 01:21  |  Aounist 22/08/08
      54.   Syria will never get support from Russia 01:28  |  Nick Potzayid 22/08/08
      55.   X Millitary 01:57  |  John 22/08/08
      56.   THE Russian navy already there,courtesy of siding with Soviets 02:31  |  PETER SM 22/08/08
      57.   Ineriority complex 02:41  |  17 22/08/08
      58.   Understand? Provocation? 03:25  |  Jeff Northridge 22/08/08
      59.   #25 Vladamir 03:26  |  X-Military 22/08/08
      60.   2nd try to X millitary 03:26  |  John 22/08/08
      61.   45 Aounist, you make my day ! You crack me up ! 03:53  |  lakshmi 22/08/08
      62.   DD # 18 another Iimportant fact 04:09  |  a 22/08/08
      63.   russian missiles in syria 04:30  |  francio 22/08/08
      64.   Damascus 05:40  |  LB 22/08/08
      65.   sam 06:07  |  bobby 22/08/08
      66.   Incredible hypocrisy of UN Man (#2) on sovereignity 06:24  |  Voice of Reason 22/08/08
      67.   meddleing in the middle east 06:32  |  Muneir 22/08/08
      68.   RUSSIA WILL NOT LISTEN TO ISRAEL 10:02  |  VIPER 22/08/08
      69.   X-MILITARY, sounds like a traitor to me 10:13  |  VIPER 22/08/08