Mackay calls on Russia to intervene in Syria

HALIFAX — Defence Minister Peter MacKay is calling on Russia to exert influence to end the Syrian civil war.

MacKay told a press conference at the Halifax International Security Forum on Sunday that Russia – one of Syria’s most important allies – should use its weight to end the conflict.

Russia has backed Syria at the United Nations Security Council by repeatedly vetoing resolutions aimed at pressuring Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government to end the war. MacKay says Prime Minister Stephen Harper has recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but did not go into the details of the discussion.

On Saturday, U.S. Sen. John McCain told the security conference that he was “ashamed” as an American over the U.S. non-action in Syria. More than 36,000 people have been killed in the conflict.