- Title: Western states press Syrian govt, Russia, Iran to agree to U.N. plan - Ayrault
- Date: 7th December 2016
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (DECEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SIGN FOR FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT AND SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER, ALFONSO DASTIS, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, SAYING: "It was important to have this common statement. We went over the conditions these past few hours, because the risk for the international community is resignation, indifference, faced with the Syrian people's tragedy - with these 10 million displaced people, these 4.5 million refugees." SECURITY (SOUNDBITE) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, SAYING: "This resolution was rejected, once again, by the Russian veto - who consider that what we wanted to propose, with Spain in the initiative, was unacceptable. For us, what's unacceptable and undignified, is taking Aleppo civilians hostage, is leaving them no other choice but to flee in appalling conditions. And the human conscience can't accept it." EUROPEAN UNION FLAG AYRAULT AND DASTIS LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 22nd December 2016 16:03
- Keywords: Ayrault Syria France Russia United Nations ceasefire Aleppo
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVA0015BVYCSN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault condemned Russia for its veto of a ceasefire resolution in Syria's Aleppo, as France and five other Western nations renewed calls on Wednesday (December 7) for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The leaders of Germany, France, Italy, the United States, Canada and Britain called for an immediate ceasefire in Aleppo and in a written statement released in Berlin, condemned Russia and Iran for supporting the Syrian government.
"It was important to have this common statement. We went over the conditions these past few hours, because the risk for the international community is resignation, indifference, faced with the Syrian people's tragedy - with these 10 million displaced people, these 4.5 million refugees," Ayrault told reporters at a news conference with his Spanish counterpart, Alfonso Dastis.
Russia and China on Monday (December 5) vetoed 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 and that time was needed for talks between Washington and Moscow.
"This resolution was rejected, once again, by the Russian veto - who consider that what we wanted to propose, with Spain in the initiative, was unacceptable. For us, what's unacceptable and undignified, is taking Aleppo civilians hostage, is leaving them no other choice but to flee in appalling conditions. And the human conscience can't accept it,' Ayrault said.
The six Western leaders said the Syrian government must agree to a four-point plan put forward by the U.N, and said there must be no impunity for individuals who commit war crimes, urging the U.N. to collect evidence to bring individuals to justice. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None