Russian FM Lavrov: Libya Scenario Will Not Be Repeated

[Purveyor]

Russia will not allow the Libyan scenario to be repeated in the region's other countries. A statement to this effect was made by Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as he summarized the results of the year 2011 and outlined the agenda for 2012 at a news conference on Wednesday.

Many of the conflicts that broke out in Arab countries in 2011 will remain hot issues in 2012. As changes in the troubled countries have just begun to take hold, the international community should refrain from meddling in their domestic affairs, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"Nations should be free to choose what path of development they wish to follow and the international community should accept their choice. Foreign countries should refrain from interfering, let alone the use of force. What is happening in one country has nothing to do with what goes on in others. Other countries should focus on their own business and abide by the principle of 'Do No Harm."

A repetition of the Libya scenario has to be avoided at all costs. Unfortunately, some western countries attempted to pursue a similar scenario by offering their so-called “assistance” for resolving the crisis in Syria. Russia will do its utmost to obstruct a UN Security Council resolution on military intervention for Syria. Moscow has proposed a draft resolution which stipulates non-interference and non-use of force. China supported this wording. As for the western partners, they disagree on these two points and this cannot but cause concern.

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http://english.ruvr.ru/2012/01/21/64323896.html

[teddy51]

1. I totally agree with Mr. Lavrov, lets hope this message gets across. n/t

[pampango]

3. Is he saying "Assad is our friend and customer. Mummar, not so much.Libya will not be repeated."

I don't think that military intervention "Libya-style" would work even if anyone wanted to do it. It seems to me that Russia suddenly wants to follow a "non-interference in the internal affairs of others" when the "other country" belongs to one of its buddies.

When the UN adopted the Responsibility to Protect doctrine in 2005, its member countries agreed to a set of principles based on the idea that sovereignty is not a privilege, but a responsibility.

1. A state has a responsibility to protect its population from mass atrocities.
2. The international community has a responsibility to assist the state if it is unable to protect its population on its own.
3. If the state fails to protect its citizens from mass atrocities and peaceful measures have failed, the international community has the responsibility to intervene through coercive measures such as economic sanctions. Military intervention is considered the last resort.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_to_protect

Sounds like Mr. Lavrov harkens back to a day when governments all seemed to agree with the definition of sovereignty "I'll let you repress your people, if you'll let me repress mine." Unfortunately for him, the world seems to have moved on from the definition of sovereignty that gave the rights of rulers precedence of the rights of the rest of the people.

[Zalatix]

5. We can't go to war with Russia. If they want to oppress their people all we can do is embargo.

But we should have that on the table, clearly, for them to see.

No trade with despots. Ever.

[Zalatix]

4. That doesn't mean we can't slap Russia with an embargo. What are they gonna do, FORCE US to import

their bullshit?

Please. We've got more people than they do. They won't send an army here to make us buy their crap.

If Russia starts crushing their citizens we simply stop trading with them. Same reason we should stop trading with China.