UK FM calls on Russia to join calls to oust Assad

Britain’s new Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson yesterday called on Russia and other states to demand Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad step down as he prepared for his first meeting with his Western counterparts to discuss the Syrian conflict.

Johnson is scheduled to meet with his counterparts from Germany, France, Italy and the European Union in London to discuss Syria’s five- year war.

“I will be making clear my view that the suffering of the Syrian people will not end while Assad remains in power. The international community, including Russia, must be united on this,” Johnson will say, according to remarks released by his office before the meeting.

Speaking in December, before his appointment, Johnson had called for Britain to set aside a “Cold War mindset” when dealing with Russia over Syria.

“No matter how repulsive the Assad regime may be – and it is – their opponents in Islamic State (Daesh) …are far, far worse,” Johnson wrote regarding Daesh.