Russian Foreign Ministry Briefing on Syria, Pentagon Shenanigans and Ukraine
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
In her press briefings, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (MZ below) provides updated information on major topics for reporters.
Her remarks are always refreshingly straightforward and candid, polar opposite how Washington and other Western capitals operate.
On Syria, she explained Russian airpower, assisting Syrian and allied ground forces, continue eliminating “international terrorism” on its territory.
ISIS is being systematically smashed, around 95% of territory it earlier held liberated - freed areas beginning the long road back to normality, including reconstructing devastated cities, towns and villages.
Despite significant progress, the “terrorist threat remains high,” said MZ - from remaining ISIS fighters, other US-supported terrorist groups, suicide attackers, as well as areas yet to be cleared of mines and other unexploded ordnance.
The latest report by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) on the use of chemical weapons in Syria was seriously deficient - inconsistent with proper investigative standards.
It falsely accused Syria of responsibility for last April’s Kahn Sheikhoun incident - a dubious one that may not have occurred.
So-called evidence was supplied by anti-Assad forces, alleged victims hospitalized before the date of the claimed incident.
Russia debunked the findings for failure to conduct a proper investigation, rendering them invalid, blaming Syria without justification.
“The insistent, forceful and sometimes even brazen way US diplomacy is talking, including at the UN Security Council, about Damascus and the Syrian leadership using chemical weapons is reminiscent of its tactics” in the run-up to its 2003 aggression on Iraq - justified by a litany of Big Lies, MZ explained.
She denounced “the collection of biomaterial of Russian citizens by the Pentagon,” adding:
“We believe the Pentagon should present convincing evidence so that the relevant studies by the US Air Force do not violate relevant norms of international law.”
“Lack of transparency in the Pentagon’s medico-biological activities and its close attention to Russia and adjacent states makes it necessary to enhance biological security,” she explained.
The situation in Ukraine remains deplorable, including major human rights abuses, killing civilians in Donbass, and other “barbaric behavior…”
“(A)nti-Russia hysteria” rages, said MZ, “gaining momentum.” A new law requires Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) vetting of Russian performers.
Kiev imposes “total censorship” on what it wants suppressed. Washington and Brussels support and encourage its lawless practices.
“…Ukrainian authorities have run out of pretexts for highlighting their uncompromising anti-Russia position,” MZ explained, adding:
“We continue to monitor developments in Ukraine. We still hope that common sense will prevail, but it is a dying hope.”
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