Russia criticizes France over supporting insurgents in Syria

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has censured the French government for supporting the insurgents in Syria. “The question is how right it is to… decide to support another political force if that political force is in direct confrontation with the officially recognized government of another country,” Medvedev said prior to a visit to the French capital Paris on Monday. “And from the point of view of international law, it seems to me that is absolutely unacceptable.” France became the first European country to recognize Syria’s opposition coalition on November 13. Paris said it would look into the issue of arming the insurgents against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “The desire to change a political regime in another state through recognition of some political force as the sole sovereign representative seems to me not entirely civilized,” the Russian premier stated. Medvedev also defended the Russian military cooperation with Syria and said, “All we have delivered are arms for defense against external aggression.” He underlined the fact that it is up to Syrian people to decide about the future of Syria, reiterating President Vladimir Putin’s statements that Russia will take a neutral stance on the situation in Syria. Many people, including large numbers of army and security personnel, have been killed in the turmoil that began in Syria in March 2011.