Syrian opposition slams Russian statement on regime's chemical weapons

The Syrian National Council has criticised a Russian Foreign Ministry statement which considered the opposition forces advancements in the coastal area; west of the country as harmful to the handover of chemical weapons on the designated deadline and to finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Chairman of the Syrian National Council Legal Council Hisham Marwah said in a statement on Saturday “the statements are illogical and show a lack of sincerity in the quest to create a zone free of chemical weapons”.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday saying the Free Syrian Army’s progress along the Syrian coast will disrupt the negotiations between the Syrian parties and hinders the handover of Syria’s chemical weapons.

Marwah said the Russian remarks are in no way an assessment of reality, but a reflection of the political plan which the Assad regime would follow with his regional allies with regard to chemical weapons.