UNITED NATIONS, April 18, 9:02 /ITAR-TASS/. The Western countries in the UN Security Council have refused to adopt a press statement on the situation in Homs that would express unconditional support to local armistices in Syria and resumption of negotiations between Damascus and opposition forces, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin told ITAR-TASS on Thursday after a meeting at the UN Security Council.

According to him, the British side put forward a proposal to adopt a statement on the situation in Homs. “We’ve discussed the text for two hours, but they refused to adopt very essential elements - our call for supporting the local conciliations, refused to support the resumption of the Geneva talks without any reservations of theirs,” the diplomat said.