UNSC session on Syria ends in total failure

The United Nations Security Council failed to adopt three competing resolutions on the alleged chemical incident in Syria as US and Russia voted against each other.

News ID: 69665

Date: 11 April 2018 - 10:32

Tehran(Defapress) Russia and the US on Tuesday presented three drafts on the alleged chemical incident in Syria, but all three failed to be adopted. Russia vetoed a US-sponsored resolution, while wo consecutive Russian-proposed drafts failed to get the necessary minimum votes.

Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said that the US draft was designed to fail in order to serve as a justification for unauthorized military action against Syria.

“The authors are aware that [the US draft resolution] contradicts Russian position and will not be adopted," he said. "The delegation of the United States is once again trying to mislead the international community and making yet one more step towards confrontation by requesting a vote on a draft resolution that does not have unanimous support."

Russia’s second resolution, based on an earlier draft by Sweden, voices support for the new OPCW probe into the Douma incident. It garnered five votes in support of the resolution (Russia, China, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan and Bolivia), four votes against (the US, the UK, France and Poland) and six abstentions.

US Envoy to the UN Nikki Haley, while urging other members of the Security Council not to support the Russian draft resolution, claimed that the Moscow-sponsored document would breach the principle of impartiality and give Russia a way to influence the probe.

Meanwhile, Russia's envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov has warned against any military action by the US and its allies on Syria.

Russian ambassador to Beirut also said that Moscow would respond to any US military actions against Syria.

On Monday, Trump said in a meeting with the US military leadership that he would announce in the next 24 to 48 hours what the US response would be.

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