Friday

29th Mar 2024

Russia rejects French UN draft on Syria

  • Lavrov is to meet Kerry on Thursday (Photo: consiilium.europa.eu)

Russia has told France it cannot back a draft UN resolution authorising the use of force if Syria does not give up chemical weapons.

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius delivered the news after speaking with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, by phone on Tuesday (10 September).

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

"As I understood, the Russians at this stage were not necessarily enthusiastic, and I'm using euphemism, to put all that into the framework of a binding UN resolution," Fabius told press.

Lavrov himself in a statement added: "France’s proposal to accept a Security Council resolution … blaming the Syrian authorities for the possible use of chemical weapons is inadmissible.”

The draft French text, seen by Reuters, "condemns the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian authorities on 21 August 2013" - an allegation denied by the Syrian government.

It calls on Syria to give the UN, in 15 days' time, details of all its chemical weapons facilities, and, later down the line, to "unconditionally destruct, remove or render harmless, under international supervision" its chemical arsenal.

It notes that people responsible for the 21 August attack should face justice at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

It also says that "in the event of non-compliance," the UN will "adopt further necessary measures under Chapter VII," referring to part of the UN charter which authorises military action.

The French paper comes after Russia and Syria on Monday offered to give up Syria's chemical arsenal in order to stop US-led military strikes.

The general idea was endorsed by the EU and by the Arab League on Tuesday.

But France circulated its resolution, which has the backing of the UK and the US - two other veto-holding powers on the UN Security Council - in order to allay fears the Russo-Syrian proposal is a fraud designed to buy time.

Lavrov's rejection of the French text does not mean the idea is defunct, however.

US secretary of state John Kerry is to meet with the Russian foreign minister on Thursday to see how Russia is prepared to guarantee the offer.

French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday morning also convened a special meeting of his security council to discuss the next steps on Syria.

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama in a TV speech on Tuesday said he is postponing a Congress vote on military intervention because "this initiative has the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons without the use of force."

He noted that "America is not the world’s policeman" and that "I’ve spent four-and-a-half years working to end wars, not to start them," citing withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and Iraq.

But he added: "when with modest effort and risk we can stop children from being gassed to death and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act. That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional."

US and EU breaking taboos to restrain Israel

The US abstained and all EU states on the UN Security Council backed a call for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza, as Europe prepares to also blacklist extremist Israeli settlers.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us