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RF does not rule out UN SC compromise resolution on Syria-Churkin

“We believe that the statements made in some capitals about what regime is legitimate and what is not - only encourage violence in Syria,”

UNITED NATIONS, September 29 (Itar-Tass) – “If the UN Security Council becomes united regarding the need to put an end to political violence in Syria, then we can take a common stand,” Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said on Wednesday after another round of consultations on two draft resolutions on the situation in Syria that were submitted to the UN Security Council. “It is important not to overlook the priority tasks that boil down to stopping the violence immediately and launching a political process which, in turn, will lead to reforms,” he said.

On Wednesday, Russia submitted to the UN Security Council a new version of the draft resolution on Syria. According to Churkin, Moscow hopes that it would “promote the political process in Syria and stopping of violence in the country, because it contains very strong terms.” The Russian ambassador called another updated draft resolution on Syria submitted to the UN Security Council by the Western countries “a continuation of policies aimed at changing the regime” in this country. “We believe that the statements made in some capitals about what regime is legitimate and what is not - only encourage violence in Syria,” the Russian ambassador noted. Churkin said that the Western project shows that these countries continue to maintain the position that “actually encourages the opposition to continue the destructive actions.”

Meanwhile, the United States and other Western countries believe that the UN Security Council should take a strong action against Syria, and they want the resolution on Syria to include a sanctions mechanism. According to Churkin, the co-authors of the two draft resolutions on Syria have managed to bring their positions closer, but they have not yet touched upon the sanctions issue.

Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar Jaafari for his part welcomed the Russian project, saying that it is “a counterbalance to the Western project.” “And everything that can counterbalance the Europeans and Americans is commendable,” he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with the Vesti-24 TV channel on Tuesday, September 27 that it is acknowledged in the West that there is so far no character in sight who could hold Syria together. “Then why take hasty actions,” the minister asked. “We cannot support the draft resolution on Syria Western countries try to push through,” he said. “This is connected also with Libyan experience,” he said. “We are told that Syria is different from Libya and that there will be absolutely no interference in Syria’s internal affairs, that the sanctions are needed to make the Syrian regime realize that the world community is indignant,” Lavrov said. “The West purportedly did not yet consider further steps but holds that Assad should go, that he should be ‘pressured by sanctions’, and then it will be possible to wait and see what happens,” he said. “Here is a simple but not very reliable strategy, if it can be called a strategy at all,” the Russian minister stated.

“Problems of the Middle East focus on Syria,” he noted. “These are the multi-confessional and multiethnic character and the impact on the state of things, for instance, in Lebanon,” he said. “So it is irresponsible to approach Syria with an unimaginative set of sanctions,” Lavrov stressed. “Western partners acknowledge that they do not visualize a character who could hold the country together.” “If so, then it is unclear why such hasty actions are taken,” he said.