Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin: The Americans Still Harbor the Idea of Toppling the Syrian Regime

Alexander Zasypkin, the Russian ambassador to Lebanon, said that the recent escalation and the renewed talk about the chemical issue are dangerous because they show that the Americans do not want to cooperate with the Syrian regime and still harbor the idea of toppling it. He was speaking to Mayadeen TV on June 29.

Alexander Zasypkin: "We could have dealt in a very positive way with all the American aspirations if only the American actions had been coordinated with the Syrian regime, and the American role had been in the framework of the Astana talks. That is the problem. Any future change in that direction in the American position will be welcome. No problem. But the recent escalation and the renewed talk about the chemical issue are dangerous. This is dangerous because they do not want to cooperate with the regime, as if the possibility of toppling the regime – a possibility they appeared to have given up... With these statements they have shown that they still harbor this idea. This is very unfortunate."