Russia: UN draft on Syria 'path to civil war'
Source: Agencies |
February 1, 2012, Wednesday
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A SENIOR Russian politician said yesterday that a draft United Nations resolution demanding Syrian President Bashar Assad step aside is a "path to civil war," as Syrian troops crushed pockets of resistance by rebel soldiers on the outskirts of Damascus.
The UN Security Council was set to meet later in the day to discuss the draft, backed by Western and some Arab powers. But Russia would likely veto any punitive action.
"The Western draft Security Council resolution on Syria does not lead to a search for compromise," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov wrote on Twitter. "Pushing this resolution is a path to civil war."
Russia has been one of Assad's strongest backers as he tries to crush an uprising that began nearly 11 months ago. In October, Moscow vetoed the first Security Council attempt to condemn Syria's crackdown and has shown little sign of budging in its opposition.
Russia fears the new measure could open the door to eventual military intervention, the way an Arab-backed UN resolution led to NATO airstrikes in Libya.
The UN estimates that more than 5,400 people have been killed in the Syrian government crackdown, and the bloodshed spiked on Monday as government forces regained control of the eastern suburbs of Damascus after rebel soldiers briefly captured them. The death toll from Monday's offensive was around 100.
The UN draft resolution demands Assad halt the crackdown and implement an Arab peace plan that calls for him to hand over power to his vice president and allow the creation of a unity government to clear the way for elections.
If Assad fails to comply within 15 days, the council would consider "further measures," a reference to a possible move to impose economic or other sanctions.
The text, the drafting of which has been led by Morocco, insists it does not compel "states to resort to the use of force, or the threat of force."
During a trip to Jordan yesterday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Assad to stop the killings and he said he hoped Security Council members would reach a consensus on Syria.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the British and French foreign ministers were heading to New York to push for backing of the measure.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe ruled out military action, saying: "Things are very different from what happened in Libya. For example, in Syria you have communities that are divided and any exterior intervention could lead to a civil war."
A French official said the draft UN resolution has a "comfortable majority" of support from 10 of the Security Council's 15 members, meaning Russia or China would have to use the veto to stop it. The official said Russia had agreed to negotiate.
Because of the surge in violence, the Arab League has halted a month-old observer mission, which had already come under heavy criticism for failing to stop the crackdown. The league turned to the UN Security Council to throw its weight behind its peace plan, which Damascus has rejected.
The UN Security Council was set to meet later in the day to discuss the draft, backed by Western and some Arab powers. But Russia would likely veto any punitive action.
"The Western draft Security Council resolution on Syria does not lead to a search for compromise," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov wrote on Twitter. "Pushing this resolution is a path to civil war."
Russia has been one of Assad's strongest backers as he tries to crush an uprising that began nearly 11 months ago. In October, Moscow vetoed the first Security Council attempt to condemn Syria's crackdown and has shown little sign of budging in its opposition.
Russia fears the new measure could open the door to eventual military intervention, the way an Arab-backed UN resolution led to NATO airstrikes in Libya.
The UN estimates that more than 5,400 people have been killed in the Syrian government crackdown, and the bloodshed spiked on Monday as government forces regained control of the eastern suburbs of Damascus after rebel soldiers briefly captured them. The death toll from Monday's offensive was around 100.
The UN draft resolution demands Assad halt the crackdown and implement an Arab peace plan that calls for him to hand over power to his vice president and allow the creation of a unity government to clear the way for elections.
If Assad fails to comply within 15 days, the council would consider "further measures," a reference to a possible move to impose economic or other sanctions.
The text, the drafting of which has been led by Morocco, insists it does not compel "states to resort to the use of force, or the threat of force."
During a trip to Jordan yesterday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Assad to stop the killings and he said he hoped Security Council members would reach a consensus on Syria.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the British and French foreign ministers were heading to New York to push for backing of the measure.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe ruled out military action, saying: "Things are very different from what happened in Libya. For example, in Syria you have communities that are divided and any exterior intervention could lead to a civil war."
A French official said the draft UN resolution has a "comfortable majority" of support from 10 of the Security Council's 15 members, meaning Russia or China would have to use the veto to stop it. The official said Russia had agreed to negotiate.
Because of the surge in violence, the Arab League has halted a month-old observer mission, which had already come under heavy criticism for failing to stop the crackdown. The league turned to the UN Security Council to throw its weight behind its peace plan, which Damascus has rejected.
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