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        Russia Says Missile System for Syria Will Deter Foreign Attacks

   A senior Russian diplomat says Moscow plans to provide advanced air
   defenses to Damascus to deter foreign military action against Syria`s
   pro-Russian government, which is embroiled in a civil war.
   Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Tuesday the planned
   transfer of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to the government of Syrian
   President Bashar al-Assad will be a "stabilizing factor" for the
   country. He told reporters that Moscow believes the sale will deter
   what he called "some hotheads" from considering options to send foreign
   forces to intervene in the Syrian conflict.
   But, Ryabkov gave no indication of when Russia will transfer the air
   defense system. Damascus signed a contract to buy it several years ago.
   Israel and the United States have urged Russia not to proceed with the
   sale, fearing the air defense system will threaten Israeli security and
   complicate any military action they may take in Syria.
   Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Tuesday that if the air
   defense system is delivered, Israel will "know what to do," as he put
   it. He said the transfer has not yet taken place.
   Israel is a longtime enemy of the Assad government, while the United
   States backs rebels trying to end the Syrian leader`s 13-year
   autocratic rule.
   The Russian deputy foreign minister also criticized an EU decision to
   lift its arms embargo on the main opposition Syrian National Coalition
   while maintaining sanctions against the Syrian government.
   Ryabkov accused the 27-nation bloc of "pouring more fuel on the fire"
   of Syria`s civil war and "damaging" prospects for a U.S. and
   Russian-proposed peace conference to resolve the two-year conflict.
   The EU decided to lift the embargo on Syrian rebels at a meeting in
   Brussels on Monday. But, EU members also agreed that none of them will
   send any weapons to the rebels before August 1st, a delay aimed at
   allowing the U.S.-Russian peace initiative to proceed.
   Syrian National Council spokesman Louay Safi told the French news
   agency that the EU move is a "positive step" but may be "too little,
   too late." In separate remarks to the news agency, a spokesman for the
   SNC-backed Free Syrian Army criticized the EU, saying that delaying any
   arms transfers by two months would leave the Syrian people vulnerable
   to continued "genocide" by the Assad government.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-says-missile-system-for-syria-
   will-deter-foreign-attacks/1669723.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-says-missile-system-for-syria-will-deter-foreign-attacks/1669723.html