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Conflict in Syria

Russia-proposed statement on humanitarian pause in Aleppo blocked in UN Security Council

Great Britain, the United States, France and Ukraine have blocked the statement

Russia's envoy to UN Vitaly Churkin

Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

Russia's envoy to UN Vitaly Churkin

© Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

UNITED NATIONS, October 19. /TASS/. Great Britain, the United States, France and Ukraine have blocked in the United Nations Security Council a Russia-proposed draft statement in support of an 8-hour humanitarian pause in Aleppo and efforts to dissociate terrorists and opposition in Syria, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin said Wednesday.

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"Some of our friends have again showed their true face. Three [Western] permanent members, which have of course been joined by Ukraine. They don’t know what they really want, it’s impossible to please them," Churkin said.

He said he does not know what exactly the delegations of the four countries found to be wrong in the Russian draft statement.

"I have no idea. They disliked it," Churkin said.

The Russia-proposed draft statement "welcomes the announced halt in air strikes by Russia’s Aerospace Forces and Syria’s Air Force in the vicinity of Aleppo", starting from 08:00 a.m. Moscow Time October 18.

Besides, the document contains a call on states having influence upon armed opposition groups in eastern Aleppo to boost their efforts to dissociate as soon as possible all moderate formations from terrorist groups on the UN Security Council’s lists.

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