Russia, Syria Deals on Missile Deliveries Still in Place

Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil said on Monday that all arms agreements with Russia, including Moscow's controversial contract to deliver S-300 missile systems to Damascus, were still in place.

"All agreements between Russia and Syria in the area of arms deliveries are in place," visiting Syrian deputy prime minister said.

"Relations between Syria and Russia are strengthening for the good of peace in the region," he added.

Russia has angered the West and anti-President Bashar Assad Arab states by refusing to halt military and other cooperation with the Damascus regime throughout the Syria conflict.

Moscow in turn has condemned the West for openly siding with the rebels and strongly rejected the idea that Assad should step down as a precondition for talks.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov did not comment on the possible credit or arms deliveries but said Russia was pressing on with efforts to hold a peace conference to end the bloodshed in Syria as soon as possible.

He complained it was the opposition, rather than the government, that was holding up the realization of the plan to hold the conference in Geneva.

"We are continuing to meet with the government and all opposition groups to convince them all to accept the Russian-American initiative to convene the international conference as soon as possible," Lavrov said.

"Unfortunately, most of the opposition including the (main umbrella group) Syrian National Coalition, in contrast to the government, is not showing this readiness," he added.

Russia and the United States announced back in May the plan to bring representatives of Assad's regime and the opposition around the table for talks in Geneva but so far the momentum for holding the talks has faltered.