Russia: Syria resolution "probably unrealistic"

Dec 22, 2011, 19:26 GMT

New York - Russia said Thursday it may not be able to complete a new draft resolution on Syria's violent unrest because amendments submitted by Western countries in the UN Security Council contradicted the contents of Russia's original text.

Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, president of the 15-nation council in December, was not optimistic when asked whether the Syria draft would be ready for a vote before the holidays.

He told reporters that amendments submitted by Britain, France, Germany and Portugal 'crossed out everything we said (in the text), and we cannot discuss to produce a new text.'

He said prospects for completing the draft in coming days appeared 'probably unrealistic.' The council's legal experts have been discussing the Russian text this week.

Despite the disagreement with Western ambassadors, Churkin said, 'We are trying to get a better text. We are moving on to a united text.'

US Ambassador Susan Rice and her European counterparts have tried to amend the Russian text to include strong condemnation of the Syrian regime of President Bashir al-Assad for severe human rights abuses. The Russian text avoided singling out Damascus for the violations and killing of protesters, a death toll which the UN said has exceeded 5,000.

In October, Russia and China vetoed a draft resolution worked out by Britain, France, Germany and Portugal. The two countries last week called for a new Syrian resolution, which the four European countries welcomed, but wanted to heavily rewrite the language to condemn Damascus.

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