Russia says not to step in Syria's armed conflict

Russia in no case would intervene in the armed conflict in Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday. "Certainly, Moscow's involvement in the armed conflict is absolutely out of the question," Lavrov said in a comment published on the ministry's website, adding the Russia-Syria military-technical cooperation was conducive to maintaining stability in the Middle East. "It (the cooperation) has never aimed at supporting any forces on the intra-Syria arena," he said. Russia's top diplomat said Moscow was categorically against external interference, especially the use of force, in Syria's internal events. "We do everything to stop the bloodshed, to bring the sides to the negotiating table, where the Syrians themselves would decide the future political shape of their country," Lavrov said. Meanwhile, he reminded that Russia has been working with both Syria's official government and opposition to reach these goals. In addition, Lavrov said Moscow persuaded all the outside players to make efforts to get all the sides in Syria to implement the agreement achieved at the Geneva meeting. Russia was committed to adhering to the terms of the Geneva declaration, which envisages a Syria-led transition. The Syria crisis has lasted some 20 months. Russia reiterated that all relevant parties in the crisis should respect the country's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. The Geneva agreement reached by world powers in June stipulated that a transitional governing body must be formed on the basis of mutual agreement between the Syrian government and the opposition.