Moscow, January 27, 2012 (MAP)
Russia says Friday it cannot support the current version of a joint Arab-Western draft U.N. resolution on Syria because it “does not take into account” Moscow’s positions on how to end the 10-month-old political crisis, said Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov quoted by ITAR-TASS news agency.
Gennady Gatilov added that his country is concerned the resolution does not specifically rule out military intervention, criticizing also the draft for mentioning economic sanctions imposed earlier by the Arab League.
Later Friday, the U.N. Security Council is expected to discuss the resolution, which supports an Arab League plan calling for President Bashar al-Assad to transfer power to a deputy and form a national unity government to prepare for elections.
Officials who have seen the proposal say it had hoped to attract Russian support by using language that may leave open the possibility for Assad to stay in office, but in a limited role. They also say the document hints at, but does not call for, economic sanctions.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday urged the 15-member council to take action on the proposal, saying leaders should “seize this moment.”
