WASHINGTON, May 19 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia intends to convey its position on Syria to the other G8 countries and caution them against attempts to cut the Syrian knot with an axe, presidential special envoy to Africa and Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mikhail Margelov said.
“The most important aspect of the Syrian issue for us is to convey our concern to our partners one more time, which can be stated as follows: one may or may not agree with [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad, one may or may not like the incumbent Syrian government and assess differently the elections held in Syria, but one cannot but try to answer the question: if the Syrian government goes, who will replace it?” Margelov said on Saturday, May 19.
He stressed that the situation in Syria cannot be considered separately from the so-called “Arab Spring”, which some analysts call “Islamic Winter”.
Margelov also said that Syria is one of the key players in the efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East and the situation in that country is a matter of “colossal concern” not only to the Arab world but also to Israel.
“The Syrian crisis cannot be cut with an axe, but it can be tried to be sorted out with forceps,” Margelov said, adding that in doing so one should be guided by the “do no harm” principle.