Russia told to rein in Assad
G-7 nations call on Moscow to help end six-year civil war in Syria
Lucca, Italy, April 11: The Group of Seven industrialised nations on Tuesday urged Russia to pressure the Syrian government to end the six-year civil war, but rejected a British call to impose new sanctions on Moscow over its support of President Bashar Assad.
Foreign ministers from the seven countries said Moscow can play a constructive role in ending the brutal conflict that has destabilised the Middle East, driven millions to escape Syria and further frayed relations between the West and Russia.
“Russia can be a part of that future and play an important role,” US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said.
Or, he added, it could maintain its alliance with Syria, Iran and militant group Hezbollah, “which we believe is not going to serve Russia’s interests’ longer term.”
Mr. Tillerson flew straight from the summit in Italy to Moscow, carrying the G-7’s strong desire for a new start in Syria, but few concrete proposals to make it happen.
The G-7 blames Mr Assad’s military for a deadly chemical attack last week. Ministers meeting in the walled Tuscan city of Lucca strongly supported US missile strikes that targeted a Syrian air base believed to have been used to launch the attack. But they were divided about how to deal with Syria, and Moscow.
Italian foreign minister Angelino Alfano, who hosted the G-7 gathering, said “there is no consensus for further new sanctions.”