Russia, China Veto UN Resolution Condemning Syria

Wednesday, 5 October 2011

Russia, China Veto UN Resolution Condemning Syria

Russia and China Vetoed a European-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Syria for the so-called “crackdown on protesters”.

The resolution on Tuesday received nine votes in favor and four abstentions from Lebanon, Brazil, India and South Africa. Russia and China cast the only votes against the resolution.
With the cooperation of Britain, Germany and Portugal, France drafted the resolution which was aimed at condemning Syria and hinting that it could face sanctions if it continues its “crackdown”.

Reports said the word "sanctions" was dropped from the draft text, and the text instead warned of unspecified possible "measures" against the Syrian regime if “military operations against civilians” were not halted.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the council that Moscow's veto reflected "a conflict of political approaches" between Russia and the European council members.

Churkin said that Moscow was firmly opposed to the threat of sanctions against Damascus, considering the approach of the European delegations as confrontational and against the peaceful settlement of the crisis.
He reiterated his concerns that passing the European resolution on Syria could have opened the door to a Libya-style military intervention in Syria.
Chinese Ambassador Li Baodong said that Beijing opposed the idea of interference in Syria’s internal affairs.

WESTERN NATIONS “OUTRAGED”

US ambassador Suzan Rice talking at the UN

For their part, Western nations expressed their anger for the veto, condemning Russia and China.

French UN Ambassador Gerard Araud told the 15-nation council: “We cannot today doubt the meaning of this veto of this text".

"This is not a matter of wording. It is a political choice. It is a refusal of all resolutions of the council against Syria."

"This veto will not stop us," he added. "No veto can give carte blanche to the Syrian authorities."

The United States expressed "outrage" at the failure to pass the resolution and its ambassador walked out of the chamber in protest at a speech by Syria's envoy.

"The United States is outraged that this council has utterly failed to address an urgent moral challenge and a growing threat to regional peace and security," said US ambassador Susan Rice, condemning countries who she said "would rather sell arms to the Syrian regime."