France's Ayrault condemns Russia's veto of U.N. demand for Aleppo truce

Record ID: 76078

  • Title: France's Ayrault condemns Russia's veto of U.N. demand for Aleppo truce
  • Date: 6th December 2016
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (DECEMBER 6, 2016) (REUTERS) LIT CHRISTMAS TREE OUTSIDE NATO HEADQUARTERS NATO ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF LIT CHRISTMAS TREE NEXT TO NATO MEMBERS' FLAGS FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, ARRIVING, APPROACHING REPORTERS JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, SAYING: "I deeply regret the veto, and especially by Russia, against the (U.N.) Security Council (resolution) which would have allowed for a humanitarian truce to be effective within 24 hours, as well as stopping the 'total war' logic. I'm going to talk with (U.S. Secretary of State) John Kerry, see what his latest talks with Russia have been about. Then, we'll discuss next Saturday's meeting in Paris, to be held by all the like-minded countries of the Syrian democratic transition, we'll see which new initiatives we could adopt to relaunch the political negotiation process, because our conviction is that there will not be a sustainable peace in Syria if we only use military means." CAMERAWOMAN FILMING AYRAULT ENTERING NATO VARIOUS OF ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, PAOLO GENTILONI, ARRIVING
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2016 18:52
  • Keywords: Syria Russia veto China United Nations Aleppo truce Ayrault France
  • Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • Country: Belgium
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015BR02MF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on Tuesday (December 6) condemned Russia's veto on Monday (December 5) of a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have demanded a seven-day truce in Syria's Aleppo, with Russia arguing it would allow rebels to regroup.
    Ayrault spoke as he arrived for a NATO meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels where he was about to meet U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and discuss Syria talks to be held in Paris on December 10.
    "I deeply regret the veto, and especially by Russia, against the (U.N.) Security Council (resolution) which would have allowed for a humanitarian truce to be effective within 24 hours, as well as stopping the 'total war' logic. I'm going to talk with John Kerry, see what his latest talks with Russia have been about. Then, we'll discuss next Saturday's meeting in Paris, to be held by all the like-minded countries of the Syrian democratic transition, we'll see which new initiatives we could adopt to relaunch the political negotiation process, because our conviction is that there will not be a sustainable peace in Syria if we only use military means," Ayrault told reporters, calling for a revival of talks aimed at ending the war.
    The United Nations says more than 200,000 people might still be trapped in rebel-held areas of Aleppo, which are affected by severe food and aid shortages.
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