Syrian leader backs Russia over Georgia conflict

Assad made his comments at the start of discussions at the Russian leaders Black Sea coastal residence in Sochi, just west of the frontier with Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia.

"We understand the essence of the Russian position and consider its military reaction a response to provocation by the Georgian side," he said.

The Syrian leader said Russia had shown "courage" by agreeing to withdraw its troops after the operation -- a promise that Georgia and the West say has yet to be fulfilled.

"We value Russia’s courage in responding to international initiatives and deciding to withdraw its forces," Interfax quoted Assad as saying.

So far only a few countries -- notably Belarus, Cuba and Venezuela -- have openly supported Russia’s position on the conflict in Georgia, which began when Russian forces surged into its pro-Western Caucasus neighbor to repel a Georgian attack on Moscow-backed separatists in South Ossetia.

In interviews earlier, Assad said he wanted to discuss arms purchases and strengthen relations with Russia, saying Moscow could again become a bulwark against the West and help resist Israeli influence in the Middle East.

Assad mentioned Israeli support for Georgia, which has received military help from Israel in the form of weapons and visits by military advisors.

"The purchase of weapons is very important.... The role Israel and its military consultants played in the crisis in Georgia is now clear to Russia and the world," the Syrian leader told Russias Kommersant newspaper.

Russian worries about offending Israel "should no longer hinder our arms cooperation," Assad said in an interview that appeared Wednesday.

ISKANDER MISSILES

Under pressure from the United States and Israel, Russia earlier cancelled planned sales of S-300 air defense systems and short-range Iskander missiles to Syria, said Moscow-based defense analyst Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.

But heightened tensions between Russia and the West could now prompt Moscow to agree to sales to Syria of Pantsir surface-to-air weapons and Buk-M2 surface-to-air missiles, he said.

"Syria still wants to buy the most modern, powerful, offensive and defensive Russian arms," Pukhov said.

"Its possible that in the context of aggravated tensions between Russia and the West, Moscow will decide to sell Syria what it wants," he said, noting Russia’s anger at a missile defense deal between Poland and the United States.

Russian newsx media have reported that Moscow might also sell fighter jets to Syria or try to expand its dormant Soviet-era naval supply base in the Syrian port of Tartus, but both claims have been denied by Russian officials.

Moscow is frustrated it has been marginalized from Middle East peace efforts and is keen to host a Middle East peace conference, despite a lack of support from Israel and the United States, commented the Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper.

Signs of rapprochement between Syria and France can only have increased Russia’s anxiety about loss of influence in the Middle East, it argued.

"Despite the absence of real support for such a forum from the Israelis and the United States, Russia above all hopes to hold it by the end of the year," it said.

Photo: AFP