PRESS RELEASE
Russian Officials Blast Obama and British for Fanning the Flames of War Worldwide
Oct. 20, 2016 (EIRNS)—Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, responded with a sharp counterattack, yesterday, to accusations that Russia was responsible for hampering humanitarian aid getting in to Aleppo, mouthed by U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN David Pressman.
"That’s not true," Churkin stated.
"Why did the U.S. military refuse to stand along Castello Road together with the Russian military to ensure the non-stop operation of this vital artery? What is it? Cowardice, or a desire to inflame passions around Aleppo at whatever cost?"
Churkin charged that the flames of conflict are being
"artificially fanned from the outside. There is an answer to a question asked today, who bears responsibility, and it is known to the whole world: the United States of America and the United Kingdom, which carried out an invasion of Iraq and launched, together with some other activists, an adventurist campaign to seek a regime change in Syria. To achieve that goal, they do not shun the support of openly terrorist groups."
Also speaking yesterday before the Russian Duma, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov made it clear that the Putin government would not be cowed or threatened into capitulation.
"If the U.S. opts to further toughen sanctions [against Russia] in defiance of common sense and in disregard of its experience that has already been quite painful for them, then we will find measures in our toolbox that will have a painful impact, particularly in terms of America’s positioning in the world."
Ryabkov said that the United States continues to issue threats against Russia "on a daily basis," while it
"continues its efforts aimed at bringing its military infrastructure nearer to Russian borders and forming anti-Russian alliances with its European allies."
He added that Russia’s response so far has been "strictly proportionate and adequate," and "not guided by emotions," but that it could always shift to "asymmetrical" measures if needed.
Ryabkov then slammed the Obama administration for provoking war:
"Under the current administration, [U.S. foreign policy] became even more arrogant, forceful and focused on the attempts to impose its will on other countries.... The White House has only itself to blame for the problems in many parts of the world, as well as for the difficulties in relations with Russia."
