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| Russia warns of 'scandal' over UN vote on Syria |
| 2012-02-04 |
| Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned of a "scandal" if a Western-Arab drafted resolution on Syria comes to a vote on Saturday in the UN Security Council. The remarks which Lavrov made in an interview to be shown later on state-run television, suggest Russia would likely veto the resolution if its latest proposed amendments were not taken into account. Lavrov said, "If they want another scandal for themselves in the Security Council, then we probably cannot stop them." Lavrov said he hoped there would be no vote on the draft without changes "because our amendments to this draft are well-known." Lavrov was quoted as saying, "I sent them to (US Secretary of State) Hillary Clinton yesterday, and to our representative at the United Nations to convey them to our partners. The reasonableness and objectivity of these amendments should not raise any doubts. I hope that a prejudiced view does not prevail over common sense." At the UN, the Security Council was due to meet at 10 a.m. to vote on a draft resolution endorsing an Arab League plan calling for Assad to resign. It was not clear if Russia, which has opposed significant council action on Syria would vote in favor, abstain or veto it. Western diplomats said the latest violence might make it more difficult for Russia to block it. One diplomat asked, "Would they dare, with what is happening in Homs?" On Twitter, the British UN mission posted: "After the horror in Homs Friday (it is) vital all Council members back (the) resolution." |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 Come-on 'moose, after Assad Syria will have Muslim Brotherhood---which is a lot worse. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2012-02-04 10:01 |
| #1 He might be a tad nervous about how a Russian veto would look back home. While supporting dictators and tyrants has long been done by the Kremlin, it has likely never had much appreciation at street level. That for once, might have at least a little influence. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2012-02-04 08:36 |