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May 29, 2013

U.S.-Russia Split on Military Aid to Syrian Regime, Rebels 
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U.S. differences with Russia over Syria are widening just as the two
powers seek to convene global talks on ending the more than two-year
conflict. On Tuesday, the United States said it backed a European Union
decision to provide weapons to Syrian rebels while condemning Russia's
move to send anti-aircraft missiles to the regime of Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad. State Department spokesperson Patrick Ventrell spoke in
Washington.

Patrick Ventrell: "We disagree with and we condemn the continued supply
of Russian weapons to the regime, and this includes all class of
weapons. And we've been clear throughout and very direct with the
Russian government about that. We've seen how the regime uses those
arms. When we're talking about the opposition, that's a different group.
And clearly we have people who are defending themselves in the face of
an enormous onslaught and a despicable onslaught of violence against
them."

 

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