Russian Ambassador Timonin interview with Yonhap Agency

U.S. accusations over Syria intervention ‘pure fabrication’: Russian envoy

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) — Moscow’s top envoy to Seoul rejected accusations by the United States that its recent military intervention in Syria targets Western-backed rebel forces, saying they are “pure fabrication.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday, Ambassador Alexander Timonin said Russia’s air strikes in Syria are aimed at combating the Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist groups, a claim that has been regarded with suspicion by Washington and other Western powers since the intervention began on Sept. 30.

“Unfortunately, the actions of the U.S.-led coalition have been extremely ineffective in Syria,” Timonin said. “As a result of the operations of this alliance, the so-called Islamic State and al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups have only expanded their influence and territory.”

Russia’s intervention, four years after the Syrian civil war broke out, was a legitimate response to a call for help from the Syrian government, which was based on Russian laws, the U.N. charter and relevant international laws, he added.

“The purpose of our air strikes in Syria is to prevent the collapse of Syria’s state system and to liquidate the source of terrorism there,” the envoy said. “Claims by U.S. leaders that the Russian air force is intentionally striking rebel forces backed by the West are a pure fabrication.”

Ambassador Alexander Timonin speaks to Yonhap News Agency at the Russian Embassy in Seoul on Oct. 21, 2015. (Yonhap)

Timonin accused Washington of failing to respond to Moscow’s request to share any information that could help Russia strike the necessary positions and avoid those that should be avoided. Russia and the U.S. share an understanding on the need to fight international terrorism, he said.

He also stressed that Moscow does not support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad personally but believes that Syria’s defeat to terrorist groups would not help establish democracy in the Middle East.

“That is why Russia’s approach is to first destroy the Islamic State and then to let the Syrian people choose their president through their free expression of will.”

Assad made a surprise visit to Moscow on Tuesday and held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was his first overseas trip since the civil war broke out in 2011.

 

 

N.K. demand for peace treaty worth taking note: Russian envoy

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) - It is worth taking note of North Korea’s renewed demands for a peace treaty with the United States, Moscow’s top envoy to Seoul said, in clear contrast to the positions of Seoul and Washington.

North Korea has called for peace treaty talks with the U.S., claiming the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War does not ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Both Seoul and Washington have rejected the proposal as a ploy to divert attention away from its nuclear weapons program, which they say should be dismantled first before talks for a peace treaty can begin.

“In my personal view, it is certainly worth taking note of proposals that aim to strengthen peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Ambassador Alexander Timonin said in an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday. “The cease-fire situation hampers sufficient cooperation between South and North.”

Ambassador Alexander Timonin speaks to Yonhap News Agency at the Russian Embassy in Seoul on Oct. 21, 2015. (Yonhap)

Russia is a member of the now-suspended six-party talks that produced a deal in 2005 to end North Korea’s nuclear program in exchange for economic and political concessions.

As Pyongyang backtracked on the agreement, Seoul and Washington have demanded the communist country first demonstrate its commitment to its obligations to restart the negotiations.

“I believe the resumption of the six-party denuclearization talks should not be linked to any preconditions,” Timonin said. “That’s why I think Pyongyang’s proposal (for peace treaty talks) is worth taking note. I think this proposal could contribute to building an environment for trust on the Korean Peninsula.”

The ambassador stressed that Moscow has fully supported the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, an issue on which Russia and South Korea have “very similar positions.”