in the syrian regime there are calls for military intervention and threats and sanctions seen by many in syria as obstacles on the path to a possible political solution to the crisis. the man behind one of the biggest leaks of u.s. army data is set to go on trial but critics of the process say it's just a ploy to cover up government pries. election fever gripping russia ahead of the presidential vote as mass rallies engulfed the capital the largest demonstration seeing an estimated one hundred thousand supporting the current prime minister vladimir putin. israel dismissing global concerns over a potential military escalation in the dispute with iran saying it alone will decide whether to launch a strike on the islamic republic. up next firsthand opinion on the ongoing political crisis in syria with alexei pushkov head of russia's foreign affairs committee.

could you tell us about the purpose of your visit to syria. the main objective of my visit to syria is to see the situation firsthand as you know the russian state duma issued a statement on the situation in syria ten days ago speaking strongly against outside interference in syria's affairs and against the un and its security council siding with one of the parties in this civil conflict i do think that we also believe that the syrian government should not be the only side obliged to lay down their weapons and that we armed groups of opposing the government should do the same and my task here is to conduct negotiations with the representatives of the authorities and the opposition you know what i could to get a clearer picture of the situation and to give a report to the chairmen and deputies of the state duma you know as you know the russians closely follow the situation in syria despite all the heated arguments in

view of the upcoming presidential election united russia for the ruling party and the opposition spoke in unison on this matter are those with us mother and you still i don't rule out the possibility that the state duma will revisit the issue perhaps more than once. during your meeting with president you pointed out that russia supports going to reform in syria and it was as foreign intervention in syria's affairs will moscow a stance roominess seen how would you comment on the recent statements but his signature and general of the arab league below are a moscow and be a natural science that their position might. you know the most. obviously we're going to get off the statement made by the arab league's representative expresses nothing but his own opinion and so far i see nothing that could make moscow in

beijing will change the firm stance on the issue expressed in the recent vote on the resolute. on syria in which they called for was urging both sides of the conflict to stop using force rather than only the pro regime forces because i think we currently have every reason to believe the russian delegation will continue its attempts to persuade the outside government to adjust their approach was there with respect to the use of military force when dispersing opposition groups on the other hand those with the ability to influence the armed groups should use it to ensure the violence is not regarded as the only way out of the conflict. scenario we have to avoid is this if driven by some factors the outside government decides to restrict the use of force and the other side should not be able to use it to their advantage actually this is happened before when the government troops were ordered

back to the barracks at the request of the arab league during the work of its mission from the ashes the rebel groups used the opportunity to mount an offensive i think it's impossible to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict to the school on that basis that it's and there was more. muscular issues general ward and i were friends of syria in tunisia. what do you expect from that. yeah the. last of the show stewart of some i think moscow refused to take part in that meeting because judging by the statements we've heard in the format of the so-called friends of syria club it will soon be formed the sole purpose of that conference is not to find a way out of the current situation but to promote the idea that the conflicts can only be resolved if i sadly it is i have met with mr assad himself the foreign

minister of a parliamentary speaker and with representatives of two opposition organizations i have to say that i did not get the impression that it is the people versus i sat in this conflict the situation is different just a fraction of the people is indeed opposing the regime while the other support mr assad has some quite actively right of while yet another faction does not want syria to fall into chaos or to force a support the regime passively like you are clearly not on the side of armed insurgents or the fish like you they do not support the idea of outside interference you know the situation therefore is not simple it's not black and white nor scenario where a whole nation rises up to overthrow governments they don't like us and see that i can even quote one of the opposition representatives i met with so they believe that the situation cannot be resolved without the regime being involved and they

believe that he has to be part of the solution the arab league believes the current regime should be torn down because even at the same time they make no suggestions about how events should develop after that will replace the current regime believe me the armed insurgents who have been stepping up their efforts to topple the regime chester and he's efforts are supported by foreign states both arms shipments and i believe financially. thank you so there will be a third party as we have learned from the example of egypt revolutions are not accomplished that are the same people that start the. peaceful protests in syria but then there was quite a large scale demonstration in damascus on saturday have big goals but it happens quite often that the people's protest is taken over by others who have very little interest in democracy or the protesters initial goals but it is the cause of a very strange outside pressure on syria's ruling regime is spearheaded by

countries that are in fact undemocratic at the moment when representatives of the gulf monarchies which as far as i know do not have a single democratic institution start complaining about our son's regime being undemocratic conditionally i believe that undermines the political and moral legitimacy and i would say of the friends of syria is it a club of syria's friends or a club of people who want bashar assad gone in particular that is the question we have to ask if we should have gone flee answer which to me is quite obvious must have been the reason that moscow chose not to take part in the conference monarchy pursued schools and. the what do you think military intervention realistic option and what countries that support the syrian opposition. as there is there putting

a little flare up of all the muscular from the meetings i attended in damascus i got the impression that there is no such thing as a united syrian opposition there is the syrian national council with its seat in istanbul which opposes the very idea of negotiating with the regime or show newsroom it seems this council was created specifically to promote the idea of military intervention as a sort of however according to other syrian opposition organizations it has very little influence in syria and is very weakly represented on syria's political scene as these it is only one of the opposition groups comprised of syrians now have no influence or presence in the country there are other groups each one viewing itself as the most significant but again according to a representative of the opposition these organizations have no control over the whole insurgency for instance syria has so-called protest committees and

some of these aren't connected to any opposition groups or we were they have their own agenda so they demand that the regime change its policies they demand democracy and free elections are they do not necessarily identify themselves with specific opposition movements in other words the opposition is very fragmented and their goals are different some groups believe in talks with the regime others think it pointless with a view that some believe the constitution would offer some grounds for political evolution and syria to dismiss others i think the constitution will be worth less than the paper it's printed on some believe the elections go hard organize could take place us got the others say lections without sat in power would be pointless. that was a would inevitably be rigged by the regime in conditions such as these when there

was no single force that the regime could negotiate with your state is quite hard to open a national dialogue i have not met with members of the armed groups so i cannot convey their position to u.t.c. but as i see the opposition groups active in syria i think those represented into mask is are against the idea of military intervention of elim in scenario is not popular here even those groups that want to side go on from here do not support the idea of foreign military intervention and they believe the libyan scenario would result in chaos and loss of control. they insist that syria is different from libya in that the foundation for democracy has been laid there i would hope that the authorities have a concept of democratic procedure because i think that these groups want to deal with serious internal affairs on their own to deal with it at the same time they are desperate to a point because the situation feels like

a dead end i mean the authorities are pursuing their own goals. the armed opposition interests use its own goals and it's very hard to upset this negative stability as it is i would call it to let us know in order to begin a political process that would change the regime and at the same time reconcile the regime with syrian society. calls to ensure that it was it's a. wealthy

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welcome to the. week of peace to the looking glass at what will be the homes of the future where the walls might just be smarter than the residents every day trash protects you from the elements outside and the whole system works to save you money

the shine the spotlight on the leaders of building projects all around russia technology i'm doing here on r.g.p. . listening church. more news today violence has once again flared up. these are the images the world has been seeing from the streets of canada. the giant corporations are ruled today . tightening the noose around the syrian regime further calls for military intervention and threats of sanctions seen by many in syria as obstacles on the path to a possible political solution to the crisis. the man by one of the largest leaks in

u.s. army data set to go on trial but critics say the process is just a ploy to cover up government crimes and election fever grips russia ahead of the presidential vote mass rallies engulf the capital largest demonstration seeing an estimated one hundred thousand supporting the current prime minister vladimir putin . israel dismissing global concerns over a potential military escalation in a dispute with iran the saying it alone will decide whether to launch a strike on the islamic state. next with a sports update stay with us here on r.t. . hello welcome to the board ahead of a big thursday night of european football and here are the top stories. steam ahead coach joyce like you said i want you to look much each side to go in search of gold in bilbao they target

a last sixteen spot in the europa league. the all forgive and forget manager roberto mancini is ready to bring back all of the test is manchester city side target of double after thrashing europa league holders. and always quarter also struggling beyond us to reach the last eight of basketball's you rarely. but first a football and coach jessica's sero wants his side to go out and score goals as lucky wanted moscow are in spain this thursday night to take on a budget bill for a spot in the last sixteen of the europa league they're all women take a two one per lead into the time i but to say right doesn't want to be cited just to settle for a draw while the russian side because i need to overturn a one nil first leg deficit a greek side olympiacos all those games are among fifteen second legs taking place this thursday elsewhere athletico madrid host lot zero already three one up on aggregate manchester united have a two no advantage at home to x. united will be without him killed ways rooney and strong explosive is taking the

things for granted over thing as it was a goal. or we're going to try and avoid done so we have to try and maintain a ruin. when i was them to make sure that all motivated to win the game. for me more manchester city are the first team straight to the last sixteen after beating defending champions porto four nil at the end he had stadium to go through six one on the aggregate and afterwards manager roberto mancini said carlos tevez could be playing for the side again within three weeks after the strike apologised for his three months exile from the club a timely basis from on cheney to set his eyes on the europa league and in its premier league double your lawyer is not there is it is we want to try i want to try to go in the final it is possible it will be difficult because we are a beleaguered. squad like you're married to shag. like champions

league for the series it would be difficult but we want to try and that's the mark as premier we are on the top of a food in the next thirteen games we're in the league twenty one of the champions league on wednesday basel stunning four time winners by in munich one nil in switzerland substitute valentijn stocker netted the winner four minutes from time to give the swiss side a slim advantage for the return leg in the last sixteen while elsewhere masai heaped more pressure on coach claudio ranieri grabbing an injury time went straight into milan one nil. home meanwhile back in russia league leaders in nato made an offer to take russia strike out and that i shall been on loan from arsenal for such a year old has failed to secure a starting place with a gun as this season and scored twice for the reserves against norwich this week arshavin spent eleven years with sinitta before his move to england however any deal would have to be settled by friday when the russian transfer window closes. and in the meantime the russian national beach football team have won the european

cup adding to the world championship crown by one last year well it's been a rapid rise to the top for a nation hardly known for its beaches so rich if i'm poor went to find out this secret. despite being under a blanket of snow for around six months of the year russia has a beach soccer team which is the envy of the world where countries like brazil portugal and spain have all year round access to the beach it's the russians who are leading the world culminating in very world cup win in italy last year i mean brazil were an incredibly strong side five or so years ago but over the last couple of years in russia a lot of indoor beach soccer stadiums have been built and we have caught up with the rest of the world and surpass them before two thousand and seven russia had only qualified for beach soccer world cup on one occasion however since then the countries developed into the world's top sides and the owner of this also russia's captain says for football governing body should take a lot of credit for rapid rise which is you know each soccer has developed in

russia at a phenomenal speed the russian football union are right behind us an absolutely fantastic and supporting us all the support helped us to be crowned world champions which is the highest honor we could have the russian team has also been helped by having a very stable scored which is also incredibly talented but the last five years or so this so-called golden generation has grown in strength and confidence over the last few years and it's now one of the world's very best speech soccer teams the fact that russia had won the beach soccer world cup was hardly reported in russia however the goalkeeper i'm able to reach the say is the team is now getting more coverage in the press. with every year every month and every turnaround that passes more people are starting to write about it but if i'm going to be brutally honest beach soccer is a shock. another reason for russia's rapid rise is a fact but the vast majority of the squad are now professional film of the days

when players would have to work as taxi drivers or managers in order to supplement their income also russian clubs are able to. with europe's very balanced these teams are also importing top players from countries like brazil and portugal which helps raise the level of sport in the country. i would see eighty percent of the russians water professionals the majority of the squad play for the locomotive side which was formed two years ago and also play for the national side of the russian big shocker scientists going from strength to strength and is now by far the most successful teams in the country competing in any world wide field for tournament but may not be as famous as it counterparts for the likes of andrea shannon roman pavlyuchenko have a want to go. on russia's beach soccer players will be now aiming to retain their world crown jahi tee next year richard pombo three dougherty let's go. on to basketball now and tesco moscow have become the first team to reach the year

only quarter finals after thrashing olympiakos ninety six points to sixty four to secure their berth in the next stage with a game to spare well says i knew a win would see them finish top of group and they never looked like squandering their chance taking an early ten nothing need for finding themselves twenty eight points up one off time well olympiakos did respond to produce and even third period last test got rounded off and easy win and i didn't say which leading the scorers with fifteen points and says his team just need to keep taking one gave this time do you think they still looked about the future ok so maybe you and your family can think about historically or with players in just for me one thing it's a good practice maybe. i won't be scarce remission for prisoners. there are also in test group and moved a step closer to the quarter finals themselves with

a sixty four fifty six win over and i don't know if phase when effectively knocks f.a.'s out of the competition got a test or i need to beat m.p.r. course next weekend to progress. and italian side of the basket scieno all but mathematically assured of a place in the last eight that's despite their sixty to fifty nine points defeat to spanish side has kept one to fast pace leading scorer. that thought he'd won the game when he scored the seconds left but spoke about how the last laugh with a closet beating shot from brow all up. while across the atlantic n.b.a. sensation jeremy lin is unafraid ahead of his meeting with twice season's most valuable player le bron james the new york knicks travel to the league leading miami heat on thursday the florida club sits on a seven game winning streak but even is happy to have seen teammates camilo on to the return from a groin injury and the n.b.a.'s first american of taiwanese descent is raring to go against king james. obviously brian is a great player and

a great great defender so you know he's going to be aggressive going to not change anything our mind they're a good defensive team and we're going to need melo to be you know a playmaker and score. that switch to ice hockey now or all sixteen playoff spots in the k h l have now been claimed dinamo moscow beat fierce local rivals one nil here in the capital while the game was largely a page affair with the first two periods remaining goalless but dunno what popped up with the wind up for face to the final period just after a small crowded pop home sent his side into the postseason despite the defeatist almost also managed to make the last sixteen times to others out there you go away in the night. founding winter sports snowboarder. is on course to retain her overall world cup title after the russian claimed her first win of the season at the parallel slalom event in canada well you couldn't see much on the stoneham

slopes due to heavy fog but low visibility could not stop the death of that in her track twenty four year old running almost half a second head. duvets in the big final that's gold adding up to three more over finishes this season to. want to the top of the overall standings however her cushion is slim over partly fear of switzerland and there are more solemn event left on the circuit the next stop during moscow on march the circuit. while the race for the gulf a world number one spot has been thrown wide open after top ranked luke donald went crashing out of the w.d.c. match play championship in arizona leaving fellow englishman lee westwood and northern ireland rory mcilroy both in with a chance to use up the summit however both will need to win the event donald struggled for most of the day this effort on the fourth was a rare moment of brilliance and he became only the third top seed to exit at the

first round in the event history soundly beaten by ernie els five and four the south african working on the greens beautifully while westwood ease past belgian. three and one and u.s. open champion mcelroy defeated george could see you are quite inventive longer stuff than years of tiger woods will be civil and fans heralded spaniard had his nose in front with four holes to go but the american for a while the more knowledge of the comeback to win in the final home redgrave down and i do try to pin down because they both went out. and that's was what's nice bison.

it's. tightening the noose around the syrian regime further calls for military invasion and threats of sanctions seen by many in syria as obstacles on the path to a possible political solution to the crisis.