Russia: keeping Assad in power is not crucial

Keeping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in power is not crucial for Russia, local news agency RIA quoted the Russian foreign ministry as saying on Tuesday, signalling a change in policy towards Moscow's long-standing ally.

When asked if saving Assad was a matter of principal for Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “Absolutely not, we never said that.”

“We are not saying that Assad should leave or stay,” she added.

The statement added that the views of Russia, which have long differed between those of the United States and Saudi Arabia, who both want Assad to step down - partially agree on which parts of Syrian opposition can be part of a Syria peace dialogue.

The comments come at a time when Russia is pursuing a double-pronged strategy: to bolster Assad's position by bombing rebel groups, which it started in late September; and pushing diplomatic initiatives in an attempt to bring an end to the conflict.

 The war, which pits Assad and allies against a plethora of rebel groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), has lasted over 4 years and claimed over 250,000 lives.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet the U.N.'s Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura in Moscow. Last week, Russian delegates, together with other world powers, including the U.S., UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Iran met in Vienna to begin a new framework for peace talks. 
  alarabiya.net by Reuters
3/11/15
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