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Middle East and North Africa

Moscow opposes any UN resolution allowing use of force against Syria

As earlier stated by Gatilov, at this stage it is necessary to do everything possible in order to prevent probable negative adverse developments

Photo ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin

Photo ITAR-TASS/Valery Sharifulin

MOSCOW, August 30 (Itar-Tass) - Moscow opposes any resolution of the UN Security Council, which may be used for force actions against Syria, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Friday.

“Russia is against any resolution of the UN Security Council, which may contain an option for use of force,” he said.

As earlier stated by Gatilov, “at this stage it is necessary to do everything possible in order to prevent probable negative adverse developments or any violent actions towards Syria. This is what we’re working on now, our efforts are focused on this,” the Deputy Foreign Minister added.

Decisive word after UN Security Council

Earlier, a diplomatic source at the UN headquarters told Itar-Tass that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will meet with the diplomats from the Permanent Members of the Security Council (Russia, China, UK, USA, and France) on Friday to discuss the situation in Syria. Permanent members of the Security Council, each of which has the right of blocking resolutions on any issues, gathered on August 29 to hold the second in the past days session and discussed the proposed by western countries draft resolution that opens the way to military intervention in Syria. Russia and China are unalterably opposed to applying force. According to a source close to the matter from the UN headquarters, the participants of the meeting failed to conciliate the different points of view.

After the consultations of the UN Security Council members the UK announced its refusal to take part in the possible military operation in Syria. However, Washington authorities stated that they would take their own decision in compliance with US interests. Some UN headquarters employees express an opinion that the White House might attack Syria without putting the issue up for vote in the Security Council.

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