Russia's Lavrov Denounces "Big Geopolitical Remapping" of the Middle East Behind the Syria Crisis

October 24, 2012 • 9:51AM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in an Oct. 22 interview with Rossiskaya Gazeta, denounced "some countries" that are intent on using the Syrian crisis as part of a "geopolitical remapping" of the Middle East.

"It appears that every time the hope for progress in the Syrian situation arises, somebody attempts to prevent it from calming down and deliberately fuels the continuation of the bloodshed and civil war in Syria." Syrian President Assad, Lavrov said, is just being used as "a scapegoat" in this "big geopolitical game."

At the same time, Russia has initiated UN Security Council consultations on Syria, in an effort to bring about a cease-fire during the religious holiday of Id al Adha, and the broader peace plan being proposed by U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi. And Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Bogdanov was just in Iran, where the two countries issued a joint communique calling for a peaceful resolution of the Syria crisis, with respect for national sovereignty.