Russian FM warns against military solution to Syria crisis

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi that imposing a military solution to the Syria crisis would only destabilize the country and the Middle East, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

"Lavrov noted that a political and diplomatic settlement in Syria has no alternative, underlining that the attempts of a forcible solution will result only in further destabilization of the situation in the country and the region," the ministry said in an online statement.

The two sides agreed that "at this critical moment" all parties, including foreign players, should "act with absolute responsibility and not repeat mistakes of the past," it added.

The situation over Syria deteriorated gravely due to moves and statements made by several countries recently, noted the ministry.

The Arab League on Tuesday said it held the Syrian administration "fully responsible" for the alleged deadly chemical attack on Aug. 21 in the suburbs of Damascus. It also urged the UN Security Council to act.

Meanwhile, the United Nations stressed its rejection to a military solution to the 29-month-old strife between the Syrian government and opposition forces.

Russia has recently been warning against possible military intervention in the Syria crisis, stressing that such attempts would undermine efforts for a political settlement.

During a telephone conversation between Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry late Tuesday, the Russian top diplomat rejected U.S. accusations that the Syrian government was behind the chemical attack last week.

Meanwhile, Lavrov called for a "meaningful and profound" exchange of expert information on the cases of chemical-weapons use in Syria, said the ministry.