1 of 12. Syrian Ambassador to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari passes a piece of paper during the U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss a European-Arab draft resolution endorsing an Arab League plan calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up power in New York February 4, 2012. Russia and China joined forces in a double veto on Saturday to knock down a Western-Arab U.N. Security Council resolution backing an Arab League plan for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step aside.
Credit: Reuters/Allison Joyce
(Reuters) - Russia and China vetoed on Saturday a U.N. resolution that backed an Arab plan calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to quit, stalling global efforts to end his bloody crackdown on unrest after hundreds were reported killed in the city of Homs.
The high-level diplomatic setback came after world leaders and Syrian opposition activists accused Assad's forces of a massacre in a sustained shelling of Homs, the bloodiest episode in 11 months of upheaval in the pivotal Arab country.
Russia and China joined in a double veto of a Western- and Arab-driven resolution at the U.N. Security Council endorsing the Arab League plan for Assad to hand power to a deputy to make way for a transition towards democracy.
The other 13 council members voted for the resolution that would have said the council "fully supports" the League plan aimed at stopping Syria's bloodshed, whose sectarian overtones threaten stability in the wider Middle East region.
Russia complained that the draft resolution was an improper and biased attempt at "regime change" in Syria, which is Moscow's sole major Middle East ally, an important buyer of Russian arms exports and host to a Russian naval base.
With an eye to events in Homs, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice dispensed with the usual diplomatic courtesies and declared she was "disgusted" by the Russian-Chinese veto, adding that "any further bloodshed that flows will be on their hands".
Shortly before the Security Council voted, U.S. President Barack Obama denounced the "unspeakable assault" on Homs, demanded that Assad leave power immediately and called for U.N. action against Assad's "relentless brutality".
"Any government that brutalizes and massacres its people does not deserve to govern," Obama said.
He and other Western and Arab leaders exerted unprecedented pressure on Russia to allow the Security Council to pass the Arab League-backed resolution that calls for Assad to relinquish his autocratic powers and end the violence. The world body says over 5,000 civilians have been killed.
SECOND VETO IN FOUR MONTHS
But Russia, and China following Moscow's lead, weighed in to torpedo U.N. action on Syria for the second time in four months. In October, they vetoed a European-drafted resolution condemning Syria and threatening it with possible sanctions.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said it had not been possible to work constructively with Russia ahead of the vote, even though military intervention in Syria - fiercely opposed by Moscow - had been absolutely ruled out.
"I thought that there might be some ways to bridge, even at this last moment, a few of the concerns that the Russians had. I offered to work in a constructive manner to do so. That has not been possible," she told reporters at a Munich conference.
Clinton warned that the risk of more bloodshed and civil war in Syria had risen after the collapse of the U.N. resolution.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after the vote that France was consulting with Arab and European countries to create a contact group on Syria to try to find a solution to the crisis.
"France is not giving up," Sarkozy said in a statement, saying Paris was in touch with Arab and European partners to create a "Friends of the Syrian People Group" that would marshal international support to implement the Arab League plan.
The uprising pits Syria's majority Sunni Muslims against Assad's minority Alawites, an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam, who have dominated the country's power structure for decades.
After what U.S. officials called "vigorous" talks between Clinton and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Moscow announced that he and its foreign intelligence chief would fly to Syria on Tuesday to meet Assad, although the trip's goal was not given.
Moscow objected that the resolution contained steps against Assad, but not against his armed opponents, Lavrov said in Munich before the vote. "Unless you do it both ways, you are taking sides in a civil war."
In New York, Western delegations rejected what they called "wrecking amendments" by Russia to add language blaming the opposition along with the government for violence and diluting calls for Syria to withdraw its security forces from cities.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin denied that Moscow's amendments were last-minute, or that Russia was standing in the way of a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
"Some influential members of the international community, unfortunately, including those sitting around this table, from the very beginning of the Syrian process have been undermining the opportunity for a political settlement," Churkin said.
Syrian U.N. envoy Bashar Ja'afari criticized the resolution and its sponsors, which included Saudi Arabia and seven other Arab states, saying nations "that prevent women from attending a soccer match" had no right to preach democracy to Syria.
He also denied that Syrian forces killed hundreds of civilians in Homs, saying that "no sensible person" would launch such an attack the night before the Security Council was set to discuss his country.
Residents of Homs' battered Baba Amro district, speaking by telephone, denounced the Russian-Chinese veto, some chanting, "Death, rather than disgrace".
One resident who identified himself as Sufyan said: "Now we will show Assad. We're coming, Damascus. Starting today we will show Assad what an armed gang is." Assad has called his opponents "armed gangs" and "terrorists" steered from abroad.
Mohammed Loulichki, the U.N. ambassador of Morocco, the sole Arab member of the 15-nation council, voiced his "great regret and disappointment" at the veto and said the Arabs had no intention of abandoning their plan. British envoy Mark Lyall Grant said there would be a new U.N. push if violence continued.
France called the Homs assault a "massacre" and a "crime against humanity."
Turkey said hundreds had been killed and the United Nations must act. Tunisia expelled the Syrian ambassador, and the flag above its embassy was brought down.
Death tolls cited by activists and opposition groups ranged from 237 to 260, making the Homs attack the bloodiest so far in Assad's crackdown on protests and one of the deadliest episodes in the "Arab Spring" of revolts that have swept the region.
Residents said Syrian forces began shelling the Khalidiya neighborhood at around 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Friday using artillery and mortars. They said at least 36 houses were completely destroyed with families inside.
"We were sitting inside our house when we started hearing the shelling. We felt shells were falling on our heads," said Waleed, a resident of Khalidiya.
"The morning has come and we have discovered more bodies, bodies are on the streets," he said. "Some are still under the rubble. Our movement is better but there is little we can do without ambulances and other things."
An activist in the neighborhood contacted by Reuters said:
"We have dug out at least 100 bodies so far, they are placed in the two mosques." He put the total number of wounded at 500.
CONDEMNATION
Video footage on the Internet described as being from Homs showed at least eight bodies assembled in a room, one of them with the top half of its head blown off. A voice on the video said the bombardment was continuing as the footage was filmed.
As news of the violence spread, angry crowds of Syrians stormed their country's embassies in Cairo, London, Berlin and Kuwait and protested in other cities.
Syria denied shelling Homs and said the Internet video was staged. It is not possible to verify activist or state media reports as Syria restricts independent media access.
Syria's state news agency, SANA, quoted a "media source" as saying, "The corpses displayed by some channels of incitement are martyrs, citizens kidnapped, killed and photographed by armed terrorist groups as if they are victims of the supposed shelling."
The official Syrian account was disregarded across the globe, where international condemnation was thunderous.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe declared that "those responsible will have to answer for it" and, in remarks aimed at Moscow, said any country that blocked U.N. action would bear a "heavy responsibility in history."
The Syrian government says it is facing a foreign-backed insurgency and that most of the dead have been its troops. SANA reported funerals of 22 members of the security forces.
Some Syrian activists said the violence was triggered by a wave of army defections in Homs, a stronghold of protests.
(Additional reporting by Joseph Logan, Mariam Karouny and Dominic Evans in Beirut, Arshad Mohammed and Stephen Brown in Munich, Ahmed el-Shimy in Cairo, Caren Bohan and Katharine Jackson in Washington, Steve Gutterman in Moscow and John Irish in Paris; Writing by Mark Heinrich and Peter Graff; Editing by Louise Ireland and Peter Cooney)
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Comments (15)
TomMariner wrote:
C’mon folks, you’ve read “The Godfather” — the reason you pay “protection” money to countries like China and Russia is so they keep the police off your back when you’ve been caught red handed in armed robbery. If they didn’t, wouldn’t you wonder what all of that purchase of arms was about. And just like the Mafia, if the Don’s sell you guns (literally), they are going to pressure the judges to let you free once you kill people with them.
Everybody knows who owns Syria and its people — it has been their family for generations. What business does an organization have in deciding what a family does with its possessions?
But it is a gamble on the part of the Russians and Chinese — if the people win, they are lucky to be shut out.
Feb 04, 2012 7:55pm EST -- Report as abuse
English_Laywer wrote:
Despite the veto, the present Mr Al Assad’s government’s days are numbered because a military intervention by the US-UK-France Nato alliance would be unstoppable.
It is better to agree an exit strategy with exile to Russia for the senior Alawi ruling elite.
Another consideration could be a partition of Syria with the creation of a new “Alawi State” in the Mediterranean are which is the Alawi homeland where they had a state prior to it being integrated into Syria.
Feb 04, 2012 7:58pm EST -- Report as abuse
beancube2101 wrote:
The Syrian government says it is facing a foreign-backed insurgency and that most of the dead have been its troops. Evidence? We need all victims’ identities. All victims, not just those soldiers. Putin is right about that foreign presumption and over reacted government crack downs are both the source of disaster. Assad should step down because he failed to communicate and reach out for mediators when conflict involving against his ruling and take on a course of abusing power. He put the interest of his own above the interest of the country. He must step down and declare election for his country to recover.
Feb 04, 2012 8:07pm EST -- Report as abuse
Verpoly wrote:
Human conscience means nothing to these socialist Russia and China who ditched this resolution coz they don’t respect human lives in own country either. Although there is no widespread militaty defections in Syria, Assad will fall like Gaddaffi undoubtedly.
Feb 04, 2012 8:08pm EST -- Report as abuse
Yamayoko wrote:
When did China first depart from abstention and move behind Russia in world politics even after Putin rejected a visit by Chinese premier-designate Li lately ?
Feb 04, 2012 8:15pm EST -- Report as abuse
JoeSolo wrote:
Thats it. I say the rest of the U.N. Gives china and russia the finger, and intervene. Then the U.S., England, and French can veto whatever “condemation” they try to pass.
Feb 04, 2012 8:16pm EST -- Report as abuse
kenradke11 wrote:
Russia …you will pay the heavy price for your stupid veto power! You are a disgrace in the eyes of the world because you are allowing that madman Assad to massacre his own people while you stand by watching. Shame on you Russia and shame on you China! Their blood is on your hands from this day on! You will pay the price!
Feb 04, 2012 8:30pm EST -- Report as abuse
somethingtosay wrote:
Perfect example of corrupt governments supporting corrupt governments. I agree with Rice, blood is on their hands now, but frankly they don’t give a ****. Never have, never will. Birds of a feather flock together.
Feb 04, 2012 8:35pm EST -- Report as abuse
Life1 wrote:
@somethingtosay: terrifyingly short memory span considering the other members of the security council are ex-colonial powers that plundered half the planet, and the last is a trigger happy Imperialist that supports anybody who will buy its guns and walk its line.
Birds of a feather indeed flock together – it’s called the West.
@Kenradke: nobody is going to ‘pay the price’, chill out.
The US routinely veto’s any resolution against Israel: you might have forgotten the murder of 1’400 Lebanese, and 1’300 Gazans in two 30 day wars. Nevermind the other 6’000 Palestinians murdered by Israeli’s over the last 10 years.
Is their blood on American hands, or are they not worthy of mention?
Feb 04, 2012 9:19pm EST -- Report as abuse
sandhuatretuers wrote:
Did anyone really expect Russia/China to agree with rest of the world? These guys are selling arms to Assad. Why would they agree? Does the US agree over anti-Israel resolutions? NO! Same deal. Stop the UN bickering and send a few drones already.
Feb 04, 2012 9:20pm EST -- Report as abuse
58kiwi wrote:
It’s no surprise that Russia and China vetoed the resolution. Both countries have a shocking history with respect to oppressing their own people with the same methods employed by Basher al-Assad. In fact Assad is a lightweight compared to Stalin and Mao where millions dies under their totalitarian rule.
Most dictators laugh at these political resolutions from countries that lack the fortitude to back up words with actions. You only have to look back to 1937-1939 where the weak Neville Chamberlain, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, continually placated Hitler with “strongly worded resolutions”. I don’t believe that had much of an effect either!
Pathetic.
Feb 04, 2012 9:56pm EST -- Report as abuse
MoneyIsNotMoney wrote:
I am so happy with veto. Stay out of others’ business. They can fight the government themselves. If you feel strong about it, you are feel to join or send your money. Our government has no business in other countries
Feb 04, 2012 9:56pm EST -- Report as abuse
Jocomus wrote:
The U.S. did long ago sign a strategic partnership agreement with China on all fronts. Does it work ???
Feb 05, 2012 1:15am EST -- Report as abuse
ainslieman wrote:
a careful review of u.n.s.c. votes will clearly show how russia and china have consistently voted against stringent resolutions against those regimes always at conflict with western nation. at the same time they are deeply in bed with those regimes. perhaps, if the u.n. voided their membership a different paradym would exist in trying to quell the buthery seen in so many countries. just a thought!
Feb 05, 2012 1:33am EST -- Report as abuse
Free-Speech wrote:
ainslieman;
The US has used its veto more than the other 5 members combined.
China has used it 7 or 8 times.. The USA a whopping 85+ !!
Granted the former soviet union used its veto more than this but almost always against new memberships and in retaliation for the US not allowing soviet states into the UN.
The single biggest point of friction in UN history is between the general asscembley (the UNs only democratic forum) and the US for its constant use of the Veto to prevent resolutions condemning Israel.
That is the ONLY reason wh Israel isn’t considered by all to be the worst offender on the planet. Because the US permanenltly blocks resolutions made by the international community.
So don’t give me that crap, any of you, about China and Russia abusing the system, because by far and away the worst offender is the USA.
And for them to even voice an opinion on the use of veto power by another state is “disgusting”…
And a disgrace to the international community!
Check this out!
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/UN/usvetoes.html
Feb 05, 2012 2:55am EST -- Report as abuse
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What do you think ?
Các anh chị nghĩ thế nào, có ý kiến phê bình gì qua bài viết "Russia, China veto U.N. plan for Syria" và 15 ý kiến- phê bình từ "15 Comments" của đọc giả ?
Những người dân Syria đã không thể tiếp tục bị chà đạp, không thể tiếp tục cúi đầu làm nô lệ cho cầm quyền độc tài khát máu Assad từ đời cha tiếp tục đời con, người dân Syria đã ĐỨNG LÊN, đã đổ máu, đã bị GIẾT để giành lại QUYỀN LÀM NGƯỜI, để được LÀM NGƯỜI.
Dù bị đàn áp một cách dã man, tàn bạo những người dân Syria vẫn tiếp tục chiến đấu, họ xứng đáng là NHỮNG CON NGƯỜI đúng nghĩa .
Thế nhưng, những cường quốc đã làm gì cho họ ?
Và dân tộc VN đã bị MẤT NƯỚC vào tay bè lũ phản quốc CƯỚP NƯỚC DIỆT CHỦNG BÁN NƯỚC Việt gian cộng sản VN, là bè lũ đã và đang đội tàu nga trên đầu, đã và đang BÁN NƯỚC cho kẻ thù truyền kiếp giặc tàu, nghĩ gì trước tình hình Syria hiện giờ, HỌC thêm bài học gì từ phản ứng của các cường quốc, của liên hiệp quốc với gần 6000 sinh mạng người dân Syria đã bị GIẾT một cách dã man dưới sự cầm quyền của tên độc tài khát máu Assad ?
Người dân Việt tiếp tục cúi đầu chịu NHỤC để bè lũ chó đẻ BÁN NƯỚC cộng sản VN chà đạp hay phải đồng đứng lên để giành lại những gì đã bị lũ thú vật cộng sản VN tước đọat, để làm những con người đúng nghĩa ???
Chân thành cám ơn Quý Anh Chị ghé thăm "conbenho Nguyễn Hoài Trang Blog"
Xin được lắng nghe ý kiến chia sẻ của Quý Anh Chị trực tiếp tại Diễn Đàn Paltalk: 1Latdo Tapdoan Vietgian CSVN Phanquoc Bannuoc .
Kính chúc Sức Khỏe Quý Anh Chị .
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