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Conflict in Syria

Doha ready to provide security for OPCW inspectors in Syria

"Qatar from its side is ready to assist, we have respective contacts," the foreign minister of Qatar said

Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani Artyom Geodakyan/TASS

Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani

© Artyom Geodakyan/TASS

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Doha is ready to provide support in security of inspectors from the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Syria, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said during a news conference on Saturday after talks with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Read also

Moscow calls for transparent investigation of Syria chemical incident

"As for a possible independent investigation in the Syrian districts, which are controlled either by the government or the opposition, I believe, here should play the role the countries, which guarantee behavior of both sides," the minister said. "Qatar from its side is ready to assist, we have respective contacts."

He said, Russia’s support for the idea to organize an international expert group for investigation into the recent incidents in Syria proves Moscow is ready to assist the unbiased investigation.

"Having this investigation is very important to us," the Qatari foreign minister said. "But even of bigger importance is what we are going to do if results of the investigation make it impossible to punish the involved."

"We should make it so the involved are punished, all countries should speak in favor of this investigation," the Qatari foreign minister said. "If we do not punish the involved, it inevitably will encourage them for even more actions of the kind. This must be avoided."

"We have seen the horrifying pictures of civilians killed in Khan Sheikhoun, this must not repeat, and the involved must not avoid responsibility," the minister said. "If we do not insist of mechanisms for punishment, then in future incidents of the kind will repeat."

According to data of the Russian Defense Ministry, Syrian warplanes delivered an air strike on April 4 that hit workshops where terrorists were producing munitions with chemical agents supplied to Iraq and used in Aleppo.

However, Washington concluded that Damascus had used chemical weapons. As a result, the US military fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on the military aerodrome in the province of Homs, from which, as Washington believed, a chemical attack had allegedly started. The missile strike killed 10 people.

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Syrian conflict

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

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Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

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Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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Belarus responds to threats with preventive deterrence measures — defense minister

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Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

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Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

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UNSC rejects amendment by Russia, China to resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space

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Top US diplomat Blinken arrives in Shanghai

A State Department spokesperson told a special briefing previewing Blinken’s trip earlier that the Secretary of State would visit Shanghai and Beijing to "build on our intensive diplomacy [with China] over the past year"

Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

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Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

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Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

The total amount of blocked assets of the Russian Federation decreased by 150 million Swiss francs (about $165 million) due to the fact that a number of individuals "were removed from the EU sanctions lists"

Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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Nearly 70 Israeli hostages killed in Gaza, Hamas says

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Bolivian leader decries fresh US military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

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Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

Men of conscription age try to leave the country in every possible way, often putting their lives at risk

Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

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Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

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US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

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Release of new tranche for war to Ukraine by US escalation factor — Lukashenko

"The fact that ATACMS long-range missiles were financed is very dangerous," the Belarusian president noted

Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

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Top brass posts video of Leopard tanks, Bradley combat vehicles seized by Russian troops

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IN BRIEF: Russian deputy defense minister, entrepreneur arrested for taking bribes

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Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

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Crocus City Hall attack funded using cryptocurrency, Russian finance watchdog says

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Iran denies reports it pulled some military advisers from Syria — Al Mayadeen

The source denied news media reports on the subject, which appeared earlier