LOC20:09
17:09 GMT
MOSCOW, Sept 14 (KUNA) -- Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said
Saturday he understood motives of China for sending military vessels off Syria.
"We did not feel it was strange that China announce it is sending its
military vessels to the Syrian waters, and we understand that issue," Lavrov
told Russian TV.
"We have to monitor the situation (in Syria) closely," he said, noting that
the Russian position vis-a-vis Syria was backed by members of the Shanghai
cooperation organization, Latin American countries and other nations around
the world.
He said the alleged use of chemical weapons in Ghouta, outside Damascus, on
August 21 was "fabricated," and added that there were many evidence proving
otherwise.
Lavrov and US secretary of state John Kerry reached an agreement in Geneva
earlier today to remove or destroy the chemical weapons in Syria. (end)
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KUNA 142009 Sep 13NNNN