Future of Religious Groups in Syria Should be Determined Before Discussing Assad's Fate - Putin

Interfax ^ | 11/19/12

[marshmallow]

Moscow, November 19, Interfax - Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that, before discussing the fate of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, it is necessary to clarify the political future of various ethnic and religious groups in the country.

"We believe that it is necessary first to reach an agreement on the future and understand how legitimate rights and interests of various ethnic and religious groups will be ensured and only then switch to changes rather than vice versa - to dismiss Assad and then think what to do with this," Putin said at a press conference following Russian-German intergovernmental consultations.

Otherwise, this is fraught with developments in Syria similar to what happened in Libya, Putin said. "This way of dealing with such issues, like in Libya and other countries, engenders problems. It is well known what happened in Libya - the country's disintegration, the killings of diplomats, including a U.S. ambassador, in other words, chaos," Putin said.

While someone might "want chaos" in Syria, "we do not, since this is located right near our borders," he added.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel noted that the situation "has somewhat changed in the past days, because the Syrian opposition has consolidated."

"Let's see how firm this coalition is," she said.

[marshmallow]

The lone voice of sanity.

[headline abbreviated to fit within 100 character limit]

[JoeFromSidney]

In this case Putin seems to show more sense than our _Resident.

[Capt. Tom]

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that, before discussing the fate of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, it is necessary to clarify the political future of various ethnic and religious groups in the country.

I think it will go like this:
If the Alawite Assad is defeated the Alawites and Christian supporters of Assad will be given the opportunity to convert to Sunni Islam.
Failing to do that, they will be killed. (some, like doctors who are useful to the Sunnis will be spared and become Dhimmis.) -Tom

[Cicero]

Putin is concerned about the Christians and other minorities, although it may also involve keeping Iran friendly, so he can sell them stuff.

Obama wants to see all the Christians killed. He would give us a big grin if that happened—but pretend he was smiling about something else. And the Euroswine and the MSM are eager to help, pretending that the rebels are poor, victimized freedom fighters trying to overthrow that mean Assad. Well, he is mean, but they are a LOT worse.

[RobbyS]

Too badt that Bush didn’t think of this before taking out Saddam. The Christian community of Iraq, which goes back to the time of the Apostles, has been decimated, because Bush wrongly expected Muslims to respect religious liberty. The pope forsaw this, whiuch is why he opposed military action. But if we are to take out Assad, we must hace foreign intervention to prevent he incoming government from destroying what small liberties that Christians, Jews and others have in Syria.