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Conflict in Syria

Russia's envoy blames US position for complicating work on UN SC resolution on Syria

Additional wording is added and some of new clauses represent an attempt to somehow rewrite the Vienna documents

© EPA/JASON SZENES

UNITED NATIONS, December 18. /TASS/. Drafting of the UN Security Council resolution in support of the Vienna process for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Syria, the adoption of which was scheduled for Friday, has been complicated because of the United States that is pressing for the inclusion of additional clauses in the text, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin told reporters on Thursday.

According to him, the US side initially promised it would be a very short resolution indeed that will textually repeat the two Vienna documents. This expectation, the promise, does not seem to come true, Churkin said. As it often happens in the Security Council, additional wording is added and some of new clauses represent an attempt to somehow rewrite the Vienna documents, which is absolutely unacceptable, he said.

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The Russian ambassador to the UN said he expected the discussion of the draft resolution to be continued at the level of foreign ministers on Friday within the framework of meeting of the international Syria Support Group, which will be held in New York. According to Churkin, this resolution should be accepted not only by the Security Council members, but also by the Syria Support Group. It would be incorrect to "throw" the resolution in the Security Council without properly discussing this issue at a meeting of the international Syria Support Group. The Friday discussion is going to be difficult and very substantive, the diplomat said.

The Syria Support Group meeting will be held at a hotel in the centre of Manhattan on Friday morning. The UN Security Council meeting, to be attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry, is scheduled for 23:00, Moscow time.

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Foreign policy UN Security Council Syrian conflict

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