Russia wants to talk to US Congress about Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he supports the idea of sending a delegation from the country’s parliament to Washington to urge members of the U.S. Congress not to support military intervention in Syria.
Valentina Matviyenko, who chairs the Federation Council, the Russian parliament’s upper chamber, outlined the proposal to send a parliamentary delegation to the U.S. on Monday during a meeting with Putin. The meeting also was attended by Sergei Naryshkin, the speaker of the State Duma, the lower parliamentary house.
Matviyenko said she hopes for an “active dialogue” with U.S. lawmakers about possible military intervention in Syria.
Putin called the idea “very timely and correct.”
Matviyenko told the Russian president she and Naryshkin “completely” share his stance on what she called the “impermissibility” of military intervention in Syria without United Nations Security Council approval.
On Saturday, U.S. President Barack Obama delayed an expected military strike against Syria, instead telling Americans he will seek congressional approval to punish the Syrian government for its alleged use of chemical weapons.
That same day Putin said it would be “utter nonsense” for the Syrian government to use chemical weapons because its forces are “advancing” against rebels.
Source: VOANews.com
(Photo: Putin, May 2013: kremlin.ru)