Russia Says Won't Back Any Call for Assad to Go as New U.N. Resolution Circulated
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
European and Arab nations on Friday circulated a new draft resolution on Syria at the U.N. Security Council calling for backing for an Arab League plan under which President Bashar al-Assad would have to stand down.
Morocco presented a draft resolution to the 15-nation body -- drawn up by Arab states with Britain, France and Germany -- that seeks to end months of U.N. deadlock over Syria.
Russia and China vetoed a previous European resolution in October, accusing the West of seeking regime change.
"I think we have the chance today to open a new chapter on Syria," said Germany's UN ambassador Peter Wittig as he entered Friday's talks.
The draft, which still faces days of talks amid doubts from Russia and its allies, says the council "fully supports" an Arab League plan released last weekend under which Assad would hand over powers to a deputy so that new elections can be held.
The text "encourages" all states to follow sanctions imposed by the Arab League against Syria in November, but contains no mandatory action.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said earlier in Moscow that his country would not support any measure which orders Assad to leave office, Russian media reported.
Diplomats said they hoped for a vote within days. Official talks on the resolution are only expected to start on Monday however. Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani are to brief the council Tuesday about the Syria plan.
Earlier on Friday, Gatilov said Russia would not support any Security Council resolution calling on Assad to go, warning that an early vote on a new Western-backed text was doomed to failure.
"We cannot support any U.N. resolution calling for the support of Assad's resignation," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told Russian news agency Interfax, adding that a quick vote on the Western-Arab draft was "destined for failure".
The new draft contains strong backing to an Arab League initiative for ending a crisis that the United Nations estimates has claimed more than 5,400 lives.
Nations behind the measures -- which besides Britain, France, Germany include Arab nations such as Morocco and Qatar -- have been pushing for a U.N. Security Council vote next week.
Gatilov said a quick vote "was destined to failure because we have already clearly expressed our position, as have our Chinese partners."
Showing little movement from Russia's initial tough stance on the measure, Gatilov also criticized the resolution for leaving open the threat of sanctions and even possible military involvement should Assad fail to quickly meet its demands.
Russia and China placed a rare double veto on the first draft resolution last year, which placed the blame for the violence directly on Assad.
Moscow still enjoys close trade ties with its Soviet-era ally, signing a new military jet delivery contract with Damascus this month and still leasing one of its ports for its navy.
Russia has proposed its own draft resolution that assigns equal blame for the violence on both Assad and the opposition, an option dismissed by the West.
The Western-backed draft resolution, obtained by Agence France Presse, "condemns the continued widespread and gross violations of human rights" and makes a new call for an immediate halt to the government crackdown.
It also hints at sanctions, stating that it "takes note" of Arab League economic measures ordered on November 27 and "encourages all states to adopt similar steps and fully to cooperate with the League of Arab States in the implementation of its measures".
27 January 2012, 23:40
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The Russian regime is still betting on extending the crisis to keep the uncertainties in the Middle East.
This will keep the oil prices high which could salvage the Russina economy which depends largely on oil exports.
The Russians should know that the free Syrians will not forget their shortsighted stance and will hold them accountable after the fall of this regime.
27 January 2012, 23:44
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stalemate... greenlight for an open cruel civil war.. god protect our lebanon... or what will be left.
28 January 2012, 00:17
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Gabby, aragon, thepatriot, peace, allouchi, shab, Dr. Falso... back to the drawing table UNLESS you have a plan-b in your rabbit hat!!! So is the game over yet? Your predictions are all turning into fact, I guess. Keep factuating in the stars and in Lala Land.
28 January 2012, 01:39
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@Cookie_Jarbou3: explain to us the constructive steps that the Russian has done so far to bring the crisis in Syria to a peaceful resolution other than the arms that were delivered by sea to the Syrian regime? It's obvious Russia's stand is biased and one sided against the will of all Syrian people.
28 January 2012, 04:12
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"The Russians should know that the free Syrians will not forget their shortsighted stance and will hold them accountable after the fall of this regime." All I can say to this wowable analyst [youssefhaddad] is: EWEEEEEEEEHA. WILL HOLD THE RUSSIANS ACCOUNTABLE! I guess the free Syrians will become the new superpower that will replace or at least challenge, among others, the US, Russia, China and of course the everlasting superpower, Lebanon!!! niyel emmak ya aboul zouz
28 January 2012, 08:00
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lol youssef, russia exports gas and not oil, also problems in syria have had 0 problems on oil output by gulf states. If anything, what might drive the price of oil up is the sanctions on iran!
28 January 2012, 08:58
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Why should Assad go while the Gulf Monarchs and the king of Jordan stay? Had Assad been as friendly with Israel and not with Iran, then would this be happening? And who removed Saddam in the first place starting the Persian Empire rolling?
28 January 2012, 16:07
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The Current Russian and Chinese Dictatorship regimes are destined to collapse, their support to their aprentice Criminal Dictatorship regimes, the likes of ASSad's, the Iranian Filthy regime, North Korea, Cuba, and Venzuella will not insulate them from the accountability of their own people, that cannot be silenced by intimidation, murder, and bribery forever. Their fall is not in question the timing may be.
28 January 2012, 16:28
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Now the great TITUS the Roman emerges and is making predictions on the international level! YA 3EIN! If only TITUS can predict the exact dates so that we can figure out when all these other "Filthy" regimes will collapse and only the "non-Filthy" regimes will remain, such as the non-Filthy regime in Israel, and the non-Filthy regime in Saudi Arabia and the non-Filthy regime in Bahrain and the non-Filthy regime in... Well, TITUS knows better, apparently. As to the local and Syrian predictions, TITUS will leave these to the locals aragon, thepatriot, peace, shab, allouchi and Gabby. 7aelo al tawado3. mou?
28 January 2012, 18:08
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when the principal ally of syria that is israel will give the green light , your beloved regime will fall... don t be so impatient!
oh and when this regime will fall i bet you your beloved divine resistance will take over lebanon with its arms and stir a civil war just to keep its arsenal and obey the orders of their country iran...
a resistance that is only resisting freedom and democracy in lebanon...
28 January 2012, 18:10
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when the principal ally of syria that is israel will give the green light , your beloved regime will fall... don t be so impatient!
oh and when this regime will fall i bet you your beloved divine resistance will take over lebanon with its arms and stir a civil war just to keep its arsenal and obey the orders of their country iran...
a resistance that is only resisting freedom and democracy in lebanon...
