Russian Foreign Ministry: Russia Opposes New Western Draft Resolution on Syria
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that it will not accept a new UN draft resolution on Syria submitted by a number of western countries to the UN Security Council.
The Ministry stressed that Russia will oppose a resolution on Syria under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
Russia Today Website quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov as saying that Moscow has repeatedly informed its partners at the UN Security Council that it will not accept issuing a resolution on Syria under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, stressing that “Using the resolution to justify the use of force in the future is absolutely unacceptable to us.”
He underlined the need for making use of opportunities provided after Geneva meeting, adding that such thing requires all foreign players to work with both the government and the opposition.
Gatilov warned that the stance of the Syrian opposition factions in insisting on excluding the government from the negotiations put an obstacle in the way of launching political dialogue in Syria, adding that if there is a political will to start the negotiations, parties should show flexibility otherwise this will lead to a dead end.
The United States, France, Britain and Germany have drafted a resolution two days after Russia’s resolution on extending the mission of the UN Observers in Syria for three months.
Russia will Veto Western-backed UNSC Draft Resolution on Syria
The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister added that his country will veto the Western-backed UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria.
The French News Agency (AFP) quoted Gatilov as saying, “In case they decided to submit the draft resolution for voting on Thursday although they already know that it is rejected, Russia will veto the draft resolution.”
Bogdanov Underlines Necessity of the continuation of observers’ mission
The Special Representative of the Russian President for the Middle East Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Bogdanov reiterated Russia’s stance on the necessity of continuing the task of the UN observer mission in Syria in light of the discussions currently held at the UN Security Council.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Bogdanov discussed today with the Syrian Ambassador in Moscow Riad Haddad viewpoints on the crisis in Syria as well as the work done by the Russian side with representatives of the Syrian opposition in light of the plan of the UN Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan.
Later, Bogdanov discussed with Director of the Middle East, Asia and Latin America at the German Foreign Ministry the crisis in Syria and the efforts exerted to find a peaceful solution to this crisis in light of Anna’s plan and Geneva Conference.
Russian Naval Fleet General Staff: Black Sea Fleet Ships will start trainings late July
The Russian Naval military Fleet’s General Staff announced that a group of the Black Sea fleet ships crossed Boshporus and Dardanelles Straits and sailed to meet the unified ships’ group affiliated to the Russian fleets positioned in the North, Baltic and the black sea.
A source at the Russian Naval General Staff said today that the warships will run drills under one leadership in late July, adding “they will not enter Syrian Tartous port except for supplying the ships with fuel, water and food.”
The Russian Source denied reports saying that the Russian warships head for Syrian shores, saying “such mission was not proposed… the Russian fleet will enter Tartous port to provide ships with fuel, water and food.. the warships will not enter the Syrian port except in case there was a technical necessity for that.”
Pankin: ”We are definitely against Chapter 7”
Meantime, Russia reiterated its rejection to a threat of sanctions to Syria under chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter by the UN Security Council.
“We are definitely against Chapter 7. Anything can be negotiated, but we do not negotiate this, this is a red line.” Reuters quoted the Russian Deputy U.N. Ambassador Alexander Pankin as telling reporters in New York yester night.
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