Russia, China veto UN resolution
Source: Agencies |
July 20, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Russia and China vetoed a Western-backed UN Security Council resolution yesterday that threatened Syrian authorities with sanctions if they did not pull out troops and heavy weapons from towns and cities.
The resolution, which would have extended a UN observer mission in Syria for 45 days, received 11 votes in favor, while South Africa and Pakistan abstained.
The 15-member council still has time to negotiate another resolution on the fate of the unarmed mission before its initial 90-day mandate expires tonight.
Britain, France, Germany and the United States proposed in the draft resolution that international envoy Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan be placed under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows the council to authorize actions ranging from diplomatic and economic sanctions to military intervention.
Western council members have said they are talking about a threat of sanctions on Syria, not military intervention. The draft resolution had contained a specific threat of sanctions if Syrian authorities did not stop using heavy weapons and withdraw troops from towns and cities within 10 days.
But Russia made clear days ago it would block any resolution under Chapter 7.
In explanatory speech after the vote, Russian UN envoy Vitaly Churkin called the draft resolution "biased."
"The sanctions leveled exclusively at the Syrian government, counter the spirit of Geneva's document and does not reflect the reality in the country today," he said.
The resolution, which would have extended a UN observer mission in Syria for 45 days, received 11 votes in favor, while South Africa and Pakistan abstained.
The 15-member council still has time to negotiate another resolution on the fate of the unarmed mission before its initial 90-day mandate expires tonight.
Britain, France, Germany and the United States proposed in the draft resolution that international envoy Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan be placed under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows the council to authorize actions ranging from diplomatic and economic sanctions to military intervention.
Western council members have said they are talking about a threat of sanctions on Syria, not military intervention. The draft resolution had contained a specific threat of sanctions if Syrian authorities did not stop using heavy weapons and withdraw troops from towns and cities within 10 days.
But Russia made clear days ago it would block any resolution under Chapter 7.
In explanatory speech after the vote, Russian UN envoy Vitaly Churkin called the draft resolution "biased."
"The sanctions leveled exclusively at the Syrian government, counter the spirit of Geneva's document and does not reflect the reality in the country today," he said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
