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“We are convinced that in a time of extreme internal political
crisis, the role of the international community should not be one of
exacerbating conflict nor meddling by the use of economic sanctions or
military force.”
“We will not stand for any sanctions resolutions or using the
council’s toolbox so as to fuel conflict or possibly justify any foreign
intervention in the future.”
The Security Council met on Tuesday afternoon on the current
situation in Syria, with the Arab League and Western countries urging
the 15-nation council to adopt their joint draft resolution, which
demands what they call a “political transition” in the Middle East
country.
UNITED NATIONS: Russia on Tuesday warned foreign countries against
meddling in the internal affairs of Syria, saying that “the Syrian
crisis can only be resolved within the Syrian-led political process.”
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The statement came as Vitaly Churkin, the Russian permanent
representative to the United Nations, was addressing an open meeting of
the UN Security Council on the current situation in Syria.
“The solution to the crisis can be found only through a Syrian-led,
inclusive political process,” Churkin said. “If all key players of the
international community were to concentrate their efforts on
implementing these provisions we are convinced that the crisis would
long be a thing of the past. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case.”
“We are convinced that in a time of extreme internal political
crisis, the role of the international community should not be one of
exacerbating conflict nor meddling by the use of economic sanctions or
military force,” he said. “No, it should be fostering dialogue so as to
seek an optimally effective and smooth resolution with a view to a
cessation of violence and establishing a Syrian-led inclusive political
process.”
“Russia, which has enjoyed close, friendly contacts with the Syrian
people and the Arab world from the very beginning, fought to ensure that
the Syrian people would be able to decide for themselves without
bloodshed and violence and set a course, a format for necessary social,
economic, and political reforms,” he said.
Russia has asked representatives of the Syrian government and
opposition to enter into peace talks in Moscow to find a political
solution to the Syrian crisis, which broke out in March 2011.
“We appeal to the Syrian government and all opposition groups to send
their representatives to Moscow on an agreed-upon timeline to conduct
informal contacts without preconditions,” he said. “This would allow for
the Syrian parties to discuss many issues on the national agenda
without any limitations, in particular the task of preparing an
inter-Syrian dialogue under the LAS (League of Arab States) aegis.”
“Moreover, we suggest that in drawing up its decision the council be
guided by the principle of non-imposition,” he said. “We will not stand
for any sanctions resolutions or using the council’s toolbox so as to
fuel conflict or possibly justify any foreign intervention in the
future.”
“But this is not the matter at hand, the council cannot impose the
parameters for an internal political settlement,” he said. “It simply
does not have the mandate to do so under the (UN) Charter.”
The Security Council met on Tuesday afternoon on the current
situation in Syria, with the Arab League and Western countries urging
the 15-nation council to adopt their joint draft resolution, which
demands what they call a “political transition” in the Middle East
country.
Moscow voiced its strong opposition to the Arab-European draft
resolution, which was tabled at the Security Council by Morocco on
Friday, saying the draft resolution was not conducive to a proper
settlement of the current Syrian political crisis.
The draft resolution, jointly drawn up by Arab states, Britain,
France and Germany, wants the Security Council to back an Arab League
plan which calls on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power
to his deputy so that new elections can be held.
The United States, France, Germany and Britain asked the Security
Council to take urgent actions to address the current situation in
Syria.
Damascus has accused foreign and terrorist elements of being behind the months-old turmoil in the country.
On Tuesday, Churkin told the Security Council that consensus among the 15 council members is possible and necessary.
“We found some of the elements of our text in it, and this gives rise
to hope,” he said. “We hope that the council will come to a consensus
on the Syrian issue, as that is not only possible but also necessary.”
