MESOP : RUSSIAN AMB. CHURKIN SCEPTICAL ON ASSAD / CAUTION TO ASSAD TO FOLLOW RUSSIA’S LEADERSHIP

 UN Ambassador Churkin did point to one area of division between Russia and Assad, criticizing the Syrian President for his rejection of negotiations in a speech earlier this week.

Churkin said Moscow “would like Assad to also respond” to the international process seeking “proximity talks” between the regime and the opposition-rebel bloc:

If the Syrian authorities, despite their internal political classifications and propaganda line, which they have to take, if they will follow the leadership of Russia in regulating this crisis, then they will have a chance to get out of it with dignity. If they somehow stray from this path -=- again this is my personal opinion — then this could lead to a very difficult situation.He advised Assad not to invest all his hope in foreign-led regime ground offensives which have been enabled by Russia’s bombing: Now they may take Aleppo, the largest center in the north of the country. But if they proceed from the fact that a truce is not necessary, and [go on to] fight to the bitter end, then this conflict will last a very long time. www.mesop.de