Seven member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on Monday rejected military intervention in Syria, calling for a peaceful, political resolution to the crisis.
At a press conference following an CSTO meeting held in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the member countries had reached consensus that the settlement of the crisis in Syria is only possible through peaceful means, adding that any external military act against it will be a flagrant violation of the international law.
"Such a scenario could lead to destabilizing the situation in Syria and the whole region," Putin said.
He called for seizing all available opportunities to cease violence in Syria and launch a dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition.
Member countries expressed appreciation for the Russian efforts to resolve the crisis through peaceful, diplomatic means, and their support for the Russian-U.S. initiative of 14 September on Syria's chemical weapons.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
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