BULGARIA: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calls the veto by Russia and China of a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria, a "travesty"

Record ID: 280559

  • Title: BULGARIA: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calls the veto by Russia and China of a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria, a "travesty"
  • Date: 6th February 2012
  • Summary: SOFIA, BULGARIA (FEBRUARY 05, 2012) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHIC*** VARIOUS OF HEAVY POLICE PRESENCE / SECURITY IN SNOWY WEATHER EXTERIOR OF PRESIDENCY BUILDING BULGARIAN, UNITED STATES AND EU FLAGS VARIOUS OF BULGARIAN PRESIDENT, ROSEN PLEVNELIEV, GREETING HILLARY CLINTON GUARDS EXTERIOR OF GOVERNMENT BUILDING BULGARIAN MINISTERS WAITING FOR MEETING PR
  • Embargoed: 21st February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bulgaria, Bulgaria
  • Country: Bulgaria
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3ZJEBZFH7D8VCEG22YML1A0AI
  • Story Text: A day after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the move a "travesty" on Sunday (February 5).
    The vote came a day after activists say Syrian forces bombarded the city of Homs, killing more than 200 people in the worst night of bloodshed of the 11-month uprising.
    Russia said the resolution was biased and would have meant taking sides in a civil war. Syria is Moscow's rare ally in the Middle East, home to a Russian naval base and a customer for its arms. China's veto was widely seen as following Russia's lead.
    "What happened yesterday at the U.N. was a travesty. Those countries that refused to support the Arab League plan bear full responsibility for protecting the brutal regime in Damascus," Clinton told a news conference in Sofia.
    All 13 other members of the Security Council voted to back the resolution, which would have "fully supported" an Arab League plan under which Assad should cede powers to a deputy, withdraw troops from towns and begin a transition to democracy.
    "It is tragic that after all the work that the Security Council did, we had a 13-2 vote. There were 13 of us voting in favour of Arab League plan. We are trying to start a process for political engagement that will lead to a transition. We fear that the failure to do so would actually increase the chances for a brutal civil war," Clinton said.
    Clinton called for more diplomatic pressure on Assad.
    "We have to redouble our efforts outside of the United Nations -- with those allies and partners who support the Syrian people's right to have a better future. We have to increase diplomatic pressure on the Assad regime and work to convince those people around President Assad that he must go. And there has to be a recognition of that, and a new start to try to form a government that will represent all of the people of Syria," she said.
    The Bulgarian government has recently withdrawn a shale gas exploration permit for U.S. company Chevron after environmentalists raised concerns over the exploration technique called "fracking".
    Bulgarian Prime MInister Boiko Borisov said during the joint news conference with Clinton that Sofia would not go ahead with shale gas exploration until its environmental concerns were met.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register