Russian Foreign Ministry on Syria, Venezuela, and EU Sanctions on Russia

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

The battle to liberate Syria's Idlib province from US supported terrorists continues, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (MZ below) explained.

Heavily armed with Western and Israeli weapons, Idlib jihadists "doubled the number of attacks on…government forces in…Idlib('s) de-escalation zone" this month compared to November, MZ explained, adding: 

"The number of artillery strikes reached 60 every day. Over 90 Syrian military personnel (were) killed." 

"Tensions increased dangerously near Aleppo. According to reports, the terrorists shelled the city's residential districts more than 200 times in December, killing civilians."

Mass slaughter and destruction, along with displacement of thousands of Idlib civilians they're responsible for are falsely blamed on Syrian and Russian aerial attacks.

Since November, Russian doctors treated around 7,500 sick and wounded Syrian civilians.

Along with supplying humanitarian aid to Syrians regularly and trying to end years of conflict diplomatically, US establishment media ignore its good faith efforts — falsely blaming Moscow and Damascus for high crimes of war and against humanity committed by the US, its imperial partners, and jihadist proxies.

Bipartisan hardliners in Washington want Syrians bludgeoned into submission, supporting endless war, rejecting conflict resolution efforts.

MZ: Russia is "providing comprehensive humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people…through special international organizations," adding: 

"In mid-December, the Russian Government decided to transfer $17 million to UN agencies for their humanitarian projects in Syria in 2020." 

"(E)arly next year, we plan to start wheat deliveries (approximately 100,000 tons) to Syria as humanitarian aid."

"Russia-Syria relations are" strong, both nations committed to defeat the scourge of US-supported terrorism.

MZ highlighted information WikiLeaks revealed about doctored OPCW information on an alleged April 7, 2018 CW attack in Douma, Syria that never happened.

The incident reported on was fake, a US/NATO-staged false flag, Syria wrongfully blamed for a victimless nonevent.

MZ: The OPCW "misrepresented facts about the investigation of the (alleged Douma) incident."

Facts on the ground were ignored. Fake analysis replaced them, proving the OPCW serves Western interests, its credibility lost in the process.

Its officials ignored questions raised by state parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention, refusing to comment on the organization's outrageous actions.

Discussing the situation in Venezuela, MZ said "(t)ension persists." Days earlier, US/Colombia-supported thugs stormed a Venezuelan military base in Bolivar state, killing a soldier, stealing weapons, munitions, and vehicles.

A police station was also attacked, more weapons stolen. Several arrests were made, most weapons recovered.

According to Venezuelan Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez, elements involved were trained cross-border in (US-supported) Colombian "paramilitary camps," backed as well by the fascist Bolsonaro regime in Brazil.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Padrino Lopez blamed "extremist opposition" elements for what happened, security forces pursuing ones who escaped — likely given safe haven in Colombia and/or Brazil.

MZ: "It is obvious that the opponents of the legitimate Venezuelan authorities have not abandoned their plans to stage a military coup," adding: 

"We were alarmed by what President Nicolas Maduro has said about the plans and possible sites of these provocations."

These type incidents are "destructive…for all countries in the region…Russia firmly condemns (them and) attempts to justify them."

The Trump regime "continues (to lawlessly) interfere in Latin American and Caribbean countries."

"It is now laying a legislative trap for sensible politicians who may try to restore US diplomatic ties with Venezuela."

The Trump regime "wants its puppet (Guaido) to become head of both the legislative and executive branches in Venezuela for the next five years." 

"I can't remember such a lawless disgrace ever being forced on Latin America…"

MZ is unfamiliar with US regional lawlessness since the 19th century, Venezuela one of many examples of its regional and global ruthlessness.

EU countries continue operating like US colonies. Rare exceptions  prove the rule. Last week, Brussels extended illegal sanctions on Russia, yielding to a higher power in Washington.

MZ: The EU "again missed the opportunity to rehabilitate relations with its largest neighbor on the continent," adding: 

It's "obvious that unilateral sanctions do not work. They not only resulted in deteriorated Russia-EU relations…but also complicated the activity of EU economic operators on the Russian market." 

European Union "losses from sanctions (amount to) hundreds of billions of euros." 

Do its leaders enjoy shooting themselves in the foot in support of Washington's imperial agenda at the expense of their national interests? Apparently so!

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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

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