FM: "Weapons sales don't contribute to an atmosphere of peace."
By JPOST.COM STAFFavigdor lieberman top 298(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimksi)
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman sharply criticized a recent arms deal which was signed between Russia and Syria, saying that the move will not harbor peace in the region, AFP reported Sunday."The sale of these weapons does not contribute to building an atmosphere of peace," Lieberman was quoted as sayingHis response came after Mikhail Dmitriyev, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, said Russia would sell MiG-29 fighter jets, Pantsyr short-range air defense systems and armored vehicles to Syria.Lieberman asserted that Syria has no interest in peace, and called those who are under the impression that Bashar al-Assad's regime would be ready to cut ties with Iran and Hizbullah "naive."RELATED:'Russia to sell Syria weapons'Russia-Syria arms deal irks IsraelLieberman also critiqued Russia's "hypocritical" stance on terrorism, as Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal during his stay in Damascus, the AFP report continued.Following his visit, Medvedev called for Hamas to be included in the peace talks, stating that "no one should be excluded from this process," a suggestion which evoked a strong Israeli reaction."Russia, but also Egypt and Turkey as well as other countries, have a policy of differentiating between 'good' and 'bad' terrorism, between that which targets Israel and that which targets others," Lieberman said."We will not accept any ultimatum with regard to Hamas, and we won't let this movement take part in any peace process," he said.
