Russia: UN Draft Resolution on Syria Will Be Blocked

"The way it [the resolution] is drawn up, it is unacceptable to us and there is no doubt we will block it," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Wednesday.
 
Gatilov said that the draft resolution, which says sanctions will be imposed unless Damascus allows unrestricted access to aid delivery, is politically motivated and aims to prepare the grounds for military operations against Syria.
 
"Alas, it is politicized and its entire meaning and purpose is to lay groundwork for future military operations against the Syrian government in the case of non-fulfillment of certain demands to be made there [in the resolution]," he added.
 
The Russian diplomat further stated the Syrian government is trying hard to resolve the existing problems in the country, saying, "This is easy to do because the humanitarian situation is extremely complicated. Numerous problems exist and the Syrian government is doing the utmost to resolve them. But, unfortunately, they are not always successful due to objective reasons and there are always circumstances under which the government can be accused of non-fulfilling its commitments."
 
He further noted that China supports Russia's stance on the draft resolution proposed by the West.
 
"The Chinese share our approach and I would like to hope that some other members of the Security Council also take an objective approach to the evolving situation," Gatilov said.
 
On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov also lashed out at the UN Security Council over the draft resolution at a press conference in Moscow.
 
The top Russian diplomat went on to say that the draft resolution also disregards the measures already taken to deliver humanitarian supplies, and international agencies' assessments of the humanitarian situation in the Middle Eastern country.