RUSSIA: Russian parliament supports U.N. veto on Syria

Record ID: 280232

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russian parliament supports U.N. veto on Syria
  • Date: 11th February 2012
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (FEBRUARY 10, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT (STATE DUMA) BUILDING EXTERIOR VARIOUS OF STAIRS AND STATE DUMA EMBLEM ON WALL
  • Embargoed: 26th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAANP4OVU1TQE8NIPTW2O6RNZ9T
  • Story Text: Russian lawmakers on Friday (February 10) adopted a statement supporting the country's vote against the resolution backing an Arab League call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to yield power and start a political transition.
    On Sunday (February 5) Russia and China vetoed a Western-Arab draft U.N. resolution that called on Assad to quit. That drew U.S. and European criticism which Russia dismissed.
    "We oppose making it a principle when humanitarian reasons are used in order to change the regime. Secondly, and it seems to be very important, the United Nations and its Security Council should not be used in order to take one side in the internal conflict," chairman of the State Duma Committee on Foreign Affairs, Alexei Pushkov, told the journalists on Friday.
    Russian parliament speaker said the lawmakers were against intervening into Syria's internal affairs and provoking an armed conflict.
    "The parliament members are extremely concerned about the development of events in this country (Syria) and they support the stance of Russia and China, who voted against the draft project of United Nations Security Council because this document did not include the measures which could solve the main issue: to prevent an armed conflict in Syria," Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) speaker Sergei Naryshkin said.
    "We believe that settling the internal conflict in Syria is possible only by the means of effective dialogue and the sides' renunciation of violence and bloodshed," Naryshkin added.
    In an attempt to deflect criticism of Russia for blocking the U.N. resolution urging Assad to give up power, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday Western states were stirring up trouble in Syria, where Assad has pursued a violent crackdown since March on protests against his 11-year rule.
    Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is almost certain to win a presidential election in March, warned the West not to meddle in the affairs of Syria, or those of Russia.
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