European resolution on Syria crosses Russia’s ‘red lines’

A proposed European-Arab UN resolution on the Syria crisis crosses Russia’s “red lines” on opposing sanctions or an arms embargo, Russia’s UN envoy said Friday.

Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters after UN Security Council talks on a draft text proposed by France, Britain, Germany, Morocco and other Arab states that the document was “unacceptable”.

Churkin, whose country is a strong ally of the Damascus government, accused the Arab League of trying to “impose” a Syria solution and some of its members of seeking to “undercut” efforts to find a political end to the deadly showdown between President Bashar al-Assad and opposition demonstrators.

The new Europe-Arab resolution gives strong backing to an Arab League plan that calls on Assad to hand over powers so that a new election can be held. It supports Arab League sanctions without making any call for compulsory international action.

Russia, with China, vetoed a European proposed resolution on Syria in October. They accused the western powers of seeking regime change in Syria. Moscow has since proposed its own resolution but there have been hardly any talks on the text.

Churkin said that Russia’s delegation had “explained what we consider our red lines, where we cannot go.” These include any hint of sanctions or an arms embargo.

Churkin said the Europe-Arab draft “not only ignored our red lines but also added some new elements which we find unacceptable as a matter of principle.”

The Russian ambassador said the Arab League and the proposed resolution sought to “impose” a political outcome in Syria before talks have started.

“The Security Council cannot go about imposing solutions in crisis situations in various countries of the world,” he stated.

Churkin was critical of Arab states which have withdrawn from the Arab League monitoring mission in Syria.

“The Arab League may have its ideas where political dialogue should go. Certainly they are free to express those ideas but the Security Council should not be a tool to impose specific solutions on countries including in this particular case Syria,” he said.

He added however that Russia was ready to take part in more talks on the text.

Britain’s UN ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said there would be talks on Monday between representatives of the 15 council members. The secretary general of the Arab League is to brief the council on Tuesday and council ambassadors would hold new talks on Wednesday.

Lyall Grant said there were no sanctions or arms embargo in the text.

“You shouldn’t be fooled by those who are claiming there are all sorts of other things in the text, trying to refight battles over Libya,” he told reporters.

Opposition to UN action over Syria has come from council members — including Russia, China, South Africa and India — who say Western nations abused UN resolutions on Libya and deliberately used NATO airstrikes to bring down Moamer Kadhafi.

“We want, as do the Arabs, a unanimous resolution,” said Lyall Grant. “Frankly the time has come when we should be supporting the Arab League.”