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Hmeimim group leader: Supplies of Soviet-made weapons to Syria will only escalate violence

Earlier, Romanian mass media circulated reports about the US’ supplies of large batches of Soviet-made weapons to the Syrian opposition from the territories of Romania and Bulgaria
Syrian rebel fighters  AP Photo/Mustafa Karali
Syrian rebel fighters
© AP Photo/Mustafa Karali

GENEVA, April 22. /TASS/. The United States’ supplies of Soviet-made weapons from Romania and Bulgaria to the Syrian opposition is geared at escalation of the conflict in Syria, Ilian Masaad, Secretary General of the National Conference Party and the leader of the so-called Hmeimim group of the Syrian opposition, told TASS on Friday.

"For years, the United States, Qatar and Turkey have been buying Soviet-made weapons, including from East European countries that have a lot of such weapons after conflicts," he said. "I don’t think supplies of these weapons to the Syrian opposition will do any good. They will only encourage further warfare in the country."

He called on the parties to the Syrian conflict to surrender arms and embark on the path of peace settlement.

Earlier, Romanian mass media circulated reports about the US’ supplies of large batches of Soviet-made weapons to the Syrian opposition from the territories of Romania and Bulgaria. The Russian foreign ministry on Thursday expressed serious concern over these reports.