US: Russia, China Will Have Syrian Blood On Their Hands
Western diplomats slammed Russia and China for blocking an Arab League plan to end the crisis in Syria Saturday, after a week of intense negotiations again failed to produce a resolution condemning the Assad government’s 11 month long crackdown against opposition groups.
The double veto, Russia and China’s second in the past four months on Syrian violence, comes as local rights group reported more than 200 deaths from attacks by government forces on Friday.
“The United States is disgusted that a couple of members of this Council continue to prevent us from fulfilling our sole purpose here-addressing an ever deepening crisis in Syria and a growing threat to regional peace and security.” American Ambassador Susan Rice told Council members after the vote.
Rice said more than 3 000 people had died in Syria since Moscow and Beijing first made use of their veto back in October and warned that “any further bloodshed that flows will be on their hands.”
The United Nations says that at least 5400 people, including 400 children, have been killed since protests broke out last March and tens of thousand more are being detained. The world body says it fears the situation could break out into a full-fledged civil war.
French Ambassador Gerard Araud said Moscow and Beijing were now complicit in the Assad regime’s policy of repression.
“History will judge harshly those who have prevented the Council from lending support to the efforts of the Arab League.” he told the Council.
Earlier this week, China and Russia argued the Arab-led resolution opened the door for sanctions, an arms embargo, regime change and even military intervention. The Arab League responded to the criticism by removing provisions relating arm sales and economic sanctions from the draft as well as clearly rejecting foreign military intervention.
However the changes proved insufficient for Moscow and Beijing, who say the resolution still calls for the“full support” of an Arab League plan that is akin to regime change because it forces Syrian President Bashar al Assad to handover power during the country’s transition.
Western Council members squarely rejected Russian and Chinese objections, arguing that the resolution does not call for regime change but instead lays out a framework for political transition until Syria can hold a free and transparent election.
“There is nothing in this text that should have triggered a veto. We removed every possible excuse ” said British Ambassador Mark Lyll Grant. “China and Russia have taken a choice, to turn their backs on the Arab world and to support tyranny rather than the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.”
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin defended the veto and said some Western government’s were trying to misrepresent his country’s decision.
“We hope internationally we will be understood by the Syrian people.” Churkin told reporters after the meeting. “Unfortunately, in this onslaught of disinformation and propaganda, it is very difficult to come across and be understood properly. “
Churkin said Russia’s Foreign Minister and the head of its intelligence services will meet with Syrian officials next week to encourage a political solution to the crisis.
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