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Summary Russia said it would veto a Western-backed UN draft resolution threatening sanctions on Syria.
Russia said on Thursday it would veto a Western-backed UN Security Council draft resolution threatening sanctions on Syria if it comes to a vote, as 16 months of violence claimed another 45 lives.If they decide this (a vote on Thursday), knowing that for us the text is unacceptable, then we will not allow it to pass, Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told the Interfax news agency.But Gatilov said he did not expect a vote so soon, as the process of consultations is only just starting and should take some time.As a whole, their resolution is unbalanced and foresees that obligations should only be fulfilled by the Syrian government. Practically nothing is said about the obligations of the opposition, he said.Britain, France, Germany and the United States have submitted a draft text that would give President Bashar al-Assad 10 days to implement UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annans ceasefire plan or face tough new sanctions.If the Security Council were to approve it, the resolution would allow for non-military sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter if Syrian government forces keep up their offensive on cities.Negotiations on the draft and a rival Russian resolution, which does not mention sanctions, started in New York on Thursday. A vote must be held before July 20, when the mandate of the UN observer mission in Syria ends.Gatilov objected to the draft linking an extension of that mandate, which Russia supports, with the introduction of sanctions if Damascus does not fulfil certain conditions.Meanwhile, the White House said the defection on Wednesday of a senior Syrian diplomat is a sign that Assads regime is weakening.I can confirm that the Syrian ambassador to Iraq defected, said spokesman Jay Carney, branding Nawaf Fares decision to join the revolt another sign of the desperation that is enveloping the Assad regime.Fares announced that he was joining a small but growing list of officials who have defected as the regime battles a near 16-month-old uprising.I call on all free and worthy people in Syria, particularly in the military, to immediately rejoin the ranks of the revolution, Fares said in a message aired on Al-Jazeera television.He has since taken refuge in Qatar, Iraq has said.Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said a top officer who defected last week, General Manaf Tlass, has been in contact with Syrias opposition.
