Churkin Expects UNSC Resolution to Back Agreements on Syria to Be Adopted September 21

UNITED NATIONS- The UN Security Council should adopt a resolution in support of the Russian-US agreement on Syria at a ministerial meeting on September 21, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin has said.

“I believe it should be adopted on September 21,” he said without mentioning when the draft resolution might be made public. He said the resolution would back up the agreements achieved in Geneva Itar Tass reported.

 Churkin avoided answering the question on whether the text of the Russian-US agreement would come with the resolution. As Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier, Moscow stands for the agreement to be made public and coordinated by the UN Security Council without changes.

Churkin added that the foreign ministers of the Quartet of international mediators for the Middle East settlement (Russia, the US, EU, UN) will hold a meeting on September 22 in New York.

“The Middle East Quartet ministerial meeting will be held on September 22 during the high-level segment of the General Assembly’s 71st session,” the diplomat said.

Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry announced last week reaching an agreement on Syria. The agreement envisages resumption of “ceasefire”, separation of the “opposition” from terrorists and division of Russian and the US airstrikes zones.

Lavrov and Kerry also expressed hope then that the agreement will lead to reviving of the intra-Syrian talks. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura in turn said that he intended to consult the UN General Secretary about the timelines for relaunching such talks.

H.M