In These New Times

PressTV

18th January, 2012

On Tuesday, the 15-member Security Council held talks for about four hours on the proposed Russian resolution on Syria but the meeting ended inconclusively.

On December 15, 2011, Russia proposed its draft resolution on Syria and called on “all parties” in Syria to end the months-long unrest.

However, Western powers have disagreed with the Russian resolution and proposed changes to the draft document.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said in a press conference after the Tuesday Security Council meeting that the West’s proposed changes to the draft resolution had “in essence emasculated” the document and removed text affirming Syria’s sovereignty.

“These most important, key clauses were simply crossed out by our Western partners. We cannot accept that approach,” Gatilov added.

Russia rejects any resolution that could lead to a Western intervention in Syria.

In October last year, Russia and China vetoed a European draft resolution on Syria that sought to impose sanctions on the country.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011, with demonstrations being held both against and in favor of President Bashar al-Assad.

Damascus says “outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups” are responsible for the unrest, which it says is being orchestrated from abroad.

On Saturday, Qatari ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said Arab countries should send troops into Syria. It is the first time an Arab leader has publicly called for military intervention in the country.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry censured the Qatari ruler’s remark in a statement on Tuesday, saying that Damascus will oppose any attempt to violate its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Syrians have repeatedly expressed solidarity with the government over the past weeks.

On January 11, Assad joined thousands of government supporters in the capital Damascus and said Syria will “undoubtedly triumph over foreign conspiracies.”