All news

Russian diplomat invites US ambassador to UN to visit Syria 'to learn what ‘shame’ means'

That was her comment on Samantha Power’s statement, where she claimed Zakharova should be ashamed of the earlier voiced supposition Washington cooperated with the Islamic State (outlawed in Russia)
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Alexandr Karpushkin/TASS
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova
© Alexandr Karpushkin/TASS

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. Spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry invited the US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power to visit Syria "to learn what ‘shame’ means." That was her comment posted on Facebook on Power’s statement, where she claimed Zakharova should be ashamed of the earlier voiced supposition Washington cooperated with the Islamic State (outlawed in Russia).

Meaning of shame

"Dear Samantha Power, in order to learn the meaning of word ‘shame’ I would advise you to visit Syria and meet people there," Zakharova wrote. "Not with Nusra, nor with the moderate opposition, about delivery of humanitarian aid for which Washington is worried so much, not with those living in the West who are so concerned about the prosperous future for that country, but meet people, who live there, despite the fact that for almost six years already their country undergoes a bloody experiment, with an active involvement of Washington."

The foreign ministry’s representative said she has been communicating Syrians, including representatives of the Syrian opposition, with orphans, who come to rest and receive rehabilitation treatment in Russia, with reporters. So that Power could also have experience of the kind, Zakharova invited her to visit Syria.

"Why not go together?" she said. "All at my expense. Sure, it is not a tour of the UN corridors for the miserable. That trip would be much more breath-taking. Do agree. No fears. Nobody will touch you if you are there with me. But for a possible chance, where yours "by a mistake" deliver a strike somewhere special. You will have things to remember. And, besides, will be able to learn what "shame" means."

Weird allies

Zakharova also critically commented on Power’s statement the U.S. cannot support the Islamic State, since its militants cut off heads of the U.S. citizens.

"To your words claiming the U.S. could not support those who cut off heads of the U.S. citizens, please find attached hereto a picture from Wikipedia "U.S. President Ronald Regan meets a delegation of Afghanistan’s mujahideen in the White House, 1983."," Zakharova wrote.

On September 17, Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said the anti-IS coalition’s warplanes delivered air strikes on units of the Syrian governmental forces, killing 62 Syrian servicemen and injuring 100 more. "Today between 17.00 and 17.50 Moscow Standard Time (14.00-14.50 GMT) aircraft of the anti-IS coalition (two F-16 fighter jets and two A10s) delivered four air strikes near the airport of the city of Deir ez-Zor (Syria) on units of the Syrian governmental forces besieged by the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, outlawed in Russia)," he said. "The coalition warplanes entered the airspace of the Syrian Arab Republic from Iraq."

The Syrian command in Deir ez-Zor said that 62 Syrian servicemen died in the air attack and about 100 more were wounded.

"Immediately after the anti-IS coalition’s air strike the IS militants launched an offensive," the defense ministry’s spokesman said.

Upon this information, Zakharova said, actions of the kind are pushing Russia to the conclusion about cooperation between the U.S. and IS. In response to this statement, Power said the foreign ministry’s representative should be ashamed for the supposition.