Source:
BBCRussian President Dmitry Medvedev has called on Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to launch promised reforms or step down as the country's leader.
But he said this decision should be taken by the Syrian people and the Syrian leadership, and not by Nato or "certain European countries".
"Russia wants as much as the other countries for Syria to end the bloodshed and demands that the Syrian leadership conduct the necessary reforms," Mr Medvedev said on Russian television. "If the Syrian leadership is incapable of conducting such reforms, it will have to go, but this decision should be taken not in Nato or certain European countries, it should be taken by the Syrian people and the Syrian leadership."
Mr Medvedev has previously called for Syria to launch reforms but has stopped short of saying Mr Assad should step down if he does not implement them.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15218727
Assad can probably relax because it is not Putin making these statements. Otherwise Bashar would be having some sleepless nights.
"this decision ... should be taken by the Syrian people and the Syrian leadership."
Indeed the Syrian people have been taking this action for 6 months now. Unfortunately the only "action" taken by the leadership has involved tanks and security forces trying (in vain so far) to repress the former."NATO and 'certain European countries'" are obviously not going to do anything in Syria without the approval of the UN. Since Russia can (and has) prevented the UN from doing anything about Syria (even just a verbal condemnation), Medvedev playing the "look for NATO" card is probably welcome in Damascus.