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Arms supplied to Syria cannot be used against civilians -- Rogozin

Russia supplies only air defence systems to Syria for protection from external attacks, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier

PARIS, June 11 (Itar-Tass) —— Under no circumstances can the arms that Russia supplies to Syria be used against the civilian population, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said at the Eurosatory arms exhibition in Paris on Monday, June 11.

“Weapons do not shoot all by themselves. It is people who shoot from them. Unlike its partners, Russia has never tried to add oil to the flame,” Rogozin said.

He stressed that Russia has “strict requirements” concerning arms supplies.

“Under no circumstances can the arms supplied to Syria be used against the civilian population. We urge all sides to the Syrian conflict to drink water and calm down, and all those who wish to make a good hand of the conflict to stop supplying arms to rebels,” Rogozin said.

Russia supplies only air defence systems to Syria for protection from external attacks, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier.

“Under our contractual obligations, we supply air defence systems to the Syrian government in case Syria comes under external attack,” Lavrov said.

At the same time, he stressed that Russia “does not supply any arms to the government that could be used against peaceful people”.

“But some countries, particularly Persian Gulf countries, supply to Syria only weapons that can be used against its peaceful population. The Syrian opposition has been simply pumped with arms,” Lavrov said.

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