Enemy of Syria decision to up aid to militants encourages extremists

Russia has said that decisions made in the Rome meeting to increase aid to foreign-backed militants in Syria only encourage extremists who want to seize power by force.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich said on Friday that the promises of aid to the Syrian opposition made by the US and other countries in the meeting of the so-called “Friends of Syria” in Rome will encourage further violence rather than a negotiated solution.

“The decisions taken in Rome…directly encourage extremists towards precisely a violent seizure of power, despite the suffering of ordinary Syrians,” Lukashevich said.

Lukashevich’s remarks came a day after “Friends of Syria” group decided to increase political and material support for the foreign-backed militants operating in Syria after a meeting in the Italian capital.

US Secretary of State John Kerry promised an additional USD60 million in aid to the opposition Syrian National Coalition headed by Moaz al-Khatib.

Kerry also said the Washington would provide direct support to militant forces in the form of medical and food supplies.

The US secretary of state said the decision was aimed at increasing the pressure on Syrian President Assad to step down .

After the meeting, the European Union also announced changes to its arms embargo on Syria, allowing EU states to provide armored vehicles and technical aid to the militants fighting against the Syrian government.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.