UNSC Fails to Penalize Syria over Chemical Weapons

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Russia and China use their veto powers to block a UNSC draft resolution to impose sanctions on Syria over the government’s alleged chemical weapons use.

 
New York, 02 Jumadil Akhir 14388/01 March 2017 (MINA) – UN Security Council (UNSC) failed once again to vote today on resolution to hold those responsible of chemical attacks in Syria accountable.

Russia and China vetoed the resolution put forward by US, France and UK, imposing sanctions against 11 Syrian official and 10 entities involved in three-chemical attacks in Syria, KUNA reported.

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The resolution received nine votes in favor, three against and three other members abstained.

This was Russia’s seventh veto right on Syria in the past five-years.

In an open meeting, the UN Security Council failed to vote on western drafted resolution holding those responsible of chemical attacks in Syria accountable pursuant to the Joint investigative Mechanism (JIM) reports.

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Russia abused veto power to stand by the Assad

After the vote, the British Ambassador to the UN Matthew Rycroft told the Council that is appalled that Russia vetoed the resolution on chemical weapons, and is surprised that China has joined them.

He told the 15-member body that Russia is prepared to abuse veto power to stand by the Assad regime that turned chemical weapons on its own people.

“Russia continues to prioritise Assad regime over the protection of Syrian people,” he added.

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Taking the floor next, the US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told the Council that Russia and China had put their friends in Assad Regime ahead of global security. “Russia and China made an outrageous and indefensible choice today,” she added.

On the other side, the Russians said that the draft presented was an attempt to railroad diplomatic initiatives under way in Geneva.

Russia, China and Bolivia voted against the resolution, as Kazakhstan, Egypt and Ethiopia abstained.

The unadopted draft imposes an assets freeze on designated individuals and entities, a travel ban on designated individuals, and an embargo on arms as well as on chlorine and other chemicals intended to be used as weapons. It also restricts the sale of helicopters to the Syrian government. (T/RS05/RS01)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)