Russia has criticized the international media for blowing Moscow’s weapons cooperation with Syria out of proportion, stressing that Russia only supplies defensive weapons to the Arab country.\n<\/p>\n
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that he did not understand the international uproar created by Moscow’s continuing weapons cooperation with the Syrian government, AFP reported.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cI do not understand why the media is trying to create a sensation out of this,\u201d Lavrov said during a joint press appearance with the visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the Russian resort city of Sochi.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cWe are first and foremost supplying defense weapons related to air defense,\u201d Lavrov said, adding, \u00c5\u201cThis does not in any way alter the balance of forces in this region or give any advantage in the fight against the opposition.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
He also said that Moscow is supplying weapons to Syria \u00c5\u201cunder signed contracts, without violating any international agreements, or our own legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The US, Britain and Israel are pushing Russia to stop an arms deal under which Moscow is obliged to sell Damascus an S-300 air defense system.\n<\/p>\n
The top Russian diplomat and the UN chief also called for an international peace conference on Syria to be held \u00c5\u201cas soon as possible.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a group of warships from Russia\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s Pacific Fleet has entered the Mediterranean waters for the first time in decades.\n<\/p>\n
Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian troops and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.\n<\/p>\n
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