Russia will not change Syria stance after Putin victory: Foreign Ministry

The foreign ministry issued a statement on Tuesday saying, “The Russian position on Syria was never shaped by electoral cycles, in contrast to (that of) some of our Western colleagues.”

“We urge our European and American colleagues not to indulge in wishful thinking,” the statement added.

The United States, France and the European Union have called on Russia to review its stance on the Syrian issue after Putin’s victory.

On Monday, the US State Department said Washington was hoping to see “some fresh attention” to the Syrian issue from Russia “now that the elections are passed.”

However, the Russian foreign ministry statement said the Western calls had been made “as if Russia’s position on Syria was dictated by the election campaign and Russia would reconsider its approaches when the vote is over.”

Russia’s stance on Syria is focused on the United Nations and based on “strictly observing the principle of the inadmissibility of outside intervention (in Syria), in particular military,” according to the foreign ministry statement.

Russia and China vetoed a Western-backed draft resolution on Syria at the UN Security Council (UNSC) on February 4. The two permanent members of the UNSC rejected the draft as “unbalanced.”

Moscow and Beijing also vetoed a European-drafted UN Security Council resolution against Syria on October 5, 2011.

The latest Russian foreign ministry statement comes as the United States and a number of other Western countries including the UK and France and countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have supported measures against the Damascus government.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad endorsed a newly drafted constitution on February 28 as part of the promised reforms in the country. The draft was put to vote in a February 26 referendum and won the overwhelming support of Syrian voters.

On Tuesday, President Assad said the Syrian people, “who have in the past managed to crush foreign plots… have again proven their capacity to defend the nation and to build a new Syria through their determination to pursue reforms along with the fight against foreign-backed terrorism.”