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Expert: rejection of Russian draft resolution on Syria in UNSC was predictable

Head of the Center for Public and Media Relations at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies Igor Pshenichnikov noted that the US, the UK and France have all means to influence their allies

MOSCOW, April 15. /TASS/. Rejection by the UN Security Council of the Russian draft resolution on Syria was predictable, as three permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) - the US, the UK and France - have the veto right and have all means to influence their allies, Head of the Center for Public and Media Relations at the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies Igor Pshenichnikov told TASS.

"It was to be expected that no resolutions will be taken and that Americans and their allies will veto all projects," he said. "On the other hand, such sessions are very important, as Russia has a pulpit from which it can speak the truth and others have to listen to it, whether they want it or not," he added.

The UN Security Council rejected Russia’s draft resolution denouncing the air strike conducted by the US and its allies over Syria and demanding to stop aggression against this Middle East country. The document failed to win the necessary nine votes. The draft resolution was backed by three countries: Russia, Bolivia and China. Eight countries, including the US, the UK and France, which had carried out a strike against Syria, voted against, and four more countries, including Kazakhstan, abstained.

According to Pshenichnikov, the US is "covering up its lies" with these strikes and openly demonstrating that it doesn’t need any investigation. "They know themselves that there were no chemical attacks (in the city of Douma on April 7 - TASS). If they wanted a real investigation, they would have waited for the OPCW delegation’s arrival and wouldn’t have bombed facilities that they believe could be involved in the production of chemical weapons," he explained.

According to the expert, the military strikes carried out by the group of countries led by the US against Syria did not pursue military goals, but were directed to support the country’s image in general and President Donald Trump’s image in particular. "The US sees itself beyond the settlement process. Syria is outside the US’ control. Trump wants to show who the world leader is and stop Russia," Pshenichnikov noted.

Syria’s bombing is reflective of the US domestic policy as well, he said. "Trump is trying to assert himself, so he could not but carry out the bombing, otherwise he would have lost face," he noted. "However, Americans intentionally and accurately avoided areas controlled by Russia, and it speaks volume, because if they pursued military goals, they would have bombed wherever they wanted, whereas this was more of a publicity move.".