Russia raps US recognition of Syrian opposition
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E-mail Xinhua, December 13, 2012
Russia on Wednesday accused the United States of recognizing the main opposition group in Syria.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he was surprised by the U.S. recognition.
"Since the coalition is recognized as the only representative, probably the United States decided to put a stake on a military victory of this coalition," Lavrov was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.
The Russian top diplomat said this fact contradicts the agreements set in the Geneva Communique that proposes the start of all-Syrian dialogue between the representatives named by the government on the one side and the opposition on the other.
Reviewing consultations taking place in Geneva on Sunday, Lavrov said the United States seemed to understand the necessity of creating conditions for all-Syrian dialogue to include government members.
"It is quite an unexpected turn for us and we will seek to clarify what exactly they (the United States) have in mind," he added.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday recognized Syria's main opposition group as the sole "legitimate representative" of the Syrian people.
In an interview with the ABC News, Obama called the recognition of the newly-formed Syrian Opposition Council as "a big step" in the so-called international efforts to unseat President Bashar al- Assad.
