Russia: We Will Veto U.N. Security Council Resolution

Vladimir Chizhov, the Russian envoy to the European Union said that they will veto the United Nations Security Council resolution regarding Syria. Chizhov said that the language in the resolution, which was presented to the Security Council by the Arab League, did not specifically rule out military intervention in Syria.

The resolution has the backing of the West, including the United States and Britain. The Arab League has urged the U.N. to adopt the resolution and take “rapid and decisive action.” Sheikh Hamad, the prime minister of Qatar, said that Syria’s “killing machine is still at work.”

The Arab League is trying to avoid any type of military intervention in Syria; however, there does not appear to be any sign that the crackdown on anti-government protestors is slowing down. The United Nations estimates that more than 4,400 people have been killed in the last ten months of protests. In addition, the Syrian government says that more than 2,000 troops and security forces have been killed, as well.

Sheik Hamad said that the Arab League is not calling for military intervention in Syria. Instead, they would like to see even more economic sanctions in place against President Bashar Assad’s regime. Sheik Hamad also said that they don’t even want a change in that regime because that is something that the Syrian people should decide.

William Hague, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, told the Security Council that there is no language in the resolution calling for military intervention. Alain Juppe, France’s Foreign Minister, echoed Hague’s comments.

The Arab League blames the violence in Syria on the government. Russia believes that it is both the government and the opposition who are to blame. Bashar Ja’afari, Syria’s U.N. ambassador said that the U.S. and its allies are responsible. Ja’afari said that the Syrian government is not responsible for the violence.

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