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UN deadlock over Syria. Russia and China block Arab League plan
The United Nations Security Council discussed the Syrian crisis for a whole day without reaching a conclusion. India is also opposed to external pressures and demands that a political process led by Syrians, respecting the sovereignty of the country.
New York (AsiaNews / Agencies) - A day of debate in the UN Security Council on Syrian crisis has ended in a stalemate. The discussion centred on the proposal to adopt an Arab League plan to end the violence and for President Bashar al-Assad to step down. The Prime Minister of Qatar, one of the hardest opponents to the Syrian regime, requested that the Security Council make steps to stop the Damascus "murder machine". Russia and China opposed the Arab League plan. India also has expressed opposition to external intervention., And in particular the use of force. But it has demanded that they cooperate with the Arab League. "We are firmly of the view that all sides need to cooperate with the League of Arab States. A political process must begin without further delay”, said the Indian ambassador to the UN Jardeep Singh Puri.
Strongly against the Arab plan the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. " I don't think Russian policy is about asking people to step down. Yes, we condemn strongly the use of force by government forces against civilians. But we condemn in the same strong way the activities of the armed extremist groups who attack government positions, "he said.
Beijing has expressed itself on the same line. " China...resolutely opposes pushing for forced regime change in Syria, as it violates the United Nations Charter and the basic norms guiding the practice of international relations," said the Chinese ambassador to UN Li Baodong. The Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churlin added, however, that the Security Council can and must reach a consensus on Syria. But he noted that the draft resolution must have the consent of all parties involved, including the Damascus government.