Russia Blocks UNSC Resolution against Syria over Alleged Use of Chemical Weapon in Khan Sheikhoun
NEW YORK, (ST)- Russia on Wednesday vetoed a draft resolution submitted by Britain, France and the United States against Syria over alleged use of chemical weapons in the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idleb countryside.
Ten countries voted in favor of the resolution, Russia vetoed it, Bolivia voted against the resolution while three states including China abstained. The draft resolution has not been adopted given the negative vote of Russia, the permanent member of Council.
The Russian news Agency Itar Tass reported that the document demands that Damascus hands over all information on flights on the day of the incident to the Joint Investigative Mechanism of the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and provide access to the military bases from which strikes against Khan Sheikhoun could be carried out. The resolution also threatens Syria with sanctions and the use of military force under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
In a flagrant aggression on Syria, the US launched 59 Tomahawk missiles at an airbase in Homs province, claiming that the aggression comes as a response to the alleged chemical attack.
Russia has repeatedly called for an independent investigation of the incident.
Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Vladimir Safronkov, in a UNSC session before the vote, said the resolution served no purpose and pointed out that the executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is due to meet in the Hague Thursday to discuss the incident.
He urged all parties to cooperate with any independent international investigation launched by that organization.
According to Safronkov, the United Kingdom is afraid of Moscow and Washington cooperating on Syria so it has been doing everything possible to impede Russian-US cooperation.
He slammed British Permanent Representative to the United Nations Matthew Rycroft who had said that Russia had chosen the wrong side of history by supporting the Syrian government and that supporting the Syrian government would result in “shame” and “humiliation” for Russia.
He pointed out that Rycroft’s statement “shows that he thinks only about the ways to hamper” de Mistura’s efforts, “prevent the political process from developing” and “create an atmosphere of confrontation and enmity in the Security Council.” “The reason for all this is no secret for many in the United Nations headquarters, it is because you are afraid, you are losing sleep over the possibility that we will start cooperating with the United States. You are very much afraid of that, so you have been making every possible effort to disrupt our cooperation,” the Russian diplomat added.
“Mr. Rycroft, today you departed from the agenda to insult Syria, Iran, and other states. Rules should be observed, it is unacceptable when representatives of the UN Security Council members show such irresponsibility and use dirty language. Don’t you dare insult Russia ever again!” Safronkov demanded.
The Russian deputy envoy pointed out that Paris and London had been receiving members of illicit armed groups “many of which have been slaughtering Christians and people from other minorities in the Middle East, carrying out terrorist attacks on Orthodox churches on Palm Sunday.” “Do you care for them? You are too tangled up in your regime-changing ideas,” Safronkov said.
He called on the western countries to forget their “hubris and arrogance” and think about Syria’s future as the country needed to be preserved as a united and secular state.
“Moscow takes seriously its obligations related to ensuring the Syrian ceasefire, but you need to do your part,” the Russian diplomat said, pointing to Russia’s proposal to set up a coalition to do the demining work in Syria.
Hamda Mustafa