Russia to West: No ultimatum on Syria!

Russia has warned the West against using threats and ultimatums against Syria, arguing that Damascus has been cooperative with the special UN envoy to the country. "Russia proceeds from a deep conviction that any steps around Syria should be aimed at facilitating the success of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan's mission," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a visit to Kyrgyzstan on Thursday. Lavrov noted how the Syrian government has accepted Annan’s proposals and has begun putting them into action. “It is very important right now not to undermine this process through ultimatums and threats and unfortunately there are those who'd like to do that," he cautioned. Lavrov said Kremlin could back the UN Security Council document on Syria if it facilitates the implementation of Kofi Annan's plan. "When we debate the document at the Security Council, we will proceed from the principle 'do no harm'," the Russian foreign minister pointed out. He said Moscow would favor a consensus aimed at facilitating Kofi Annan's efforts and not using the Security Council for threats and ultimatums that “could provoke tensions.” Russia is supporting a six-point peace initiative proposed by former UN chief Kofi Annan, who told the Security Council earlier this week that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed on the April 10 deadline to put the plan to work. Syria has been plagued by a deadly unrest since mid-March 2011 and many people, including security forces, have lost their lives in the unrelenting violence. The West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of killing the protesters. But Damascus blames ''outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups'' for the unrest, stating that it is being orchestrated from abroad.