Putin: At Least 600 Foreign Militants from Russia, Europe Fight in Syria

The Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that there exist at least six hundred militants of Russian and European nationalities who fight for the opposition in Syria.

“President Assad fights foreign militants and not the Syrian people,” he said.

During his speech before the International Economic Forum in Petersburg, Putin called for not to underestimate the issue of supplying weapons to Syrian opposition groups, while recalling that Russia is exporting arms to the legitimate government in Syria, in accordance with the transparent agreements and within the framework of international laws and obligations.

The Russian president also stressed that supplying the Syrian opposition with money and weapons has been under way by many parties for a long time, pointing out that what is happening in the country now would not have been possible without the supply of arms to the opposition from abroad.

Expressing concerns about a potential political vacuum in Syria in case Assad steps down, Putin further revealed that at least 600 people from Russia and Europe are fighting within the ranks of the opposition in Syria:

“To where these weapons can flow?” he asked, in reference, apparently, to the fear of the flow of arms received by Syrian opposition to Russia and Europe later.

Reiterating that the United States labeled the “al-Nusra Front” as terrorist organization linked to “Al Qaeda”, the Russian President wondered: “How can the supply of arms reach those opponents? Where will we find these weapons in the end and what is the role they could play?”

Putin also made it clear that the Western countries cannot justify the goal behind arming the Syrian opposition without knowing its structure, indicating that there is already a dispute between Moscow and Washington on this matter, stressing that the Syrian people is the only side who can ensure the resolution of the crisis.

“You must desist from making mistakes in the Middle East, but must take into account the will of the people themselves,” he advised the US and western countries.

“We must not impose solutions on the Syrian people, but International Community can create conditions for negotiations and reaching an agreement,” the Russian President added.

For her part, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced beliefs during her speech that Geneva II will provide opportunity for political process in Syria.
Angela was attending the International Economic Forum in Russia.