Brussels, 30/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - The United Nations Security Council began behind-closed-doors negotiations on Friday 27 January on a new draft resolution against Syria's government. France and the United Kingdom hope that the resolution will be put to the vote this week, after the secretary general of the Arab League and the prime minister of Qatar have, on Tuesday, reported to the Security Council on the situation in Syria.
The draft resolution, initiated by France, Germany, the United Kingdom and a number of Arab countries, was officially presented by Morocco. The text, which supports the Arab League transition plan, calls for Bashar al-Assad to step down and for a “provisional government of national unity” to be put in place to prepare for elections and promulgate security reforms.
French Ambassador to the UN Gérard Araud said that he was expecting “a very tough negotiating process” on the text to begin among ambassadors from Wednesday. “We hope that the Council members will seize this fresh opportunity and find common ground”, his German counterpart Peter Wittig said.
Russian opposition
Russia has, however, already expressed its opposition to the proposal, which, it states, is “unacceptable” in its present form. Moscow wants a political process in Syria and not “an Arab League-imposed outcome of a political process that has not yet taken place” or a Libyan-style “regime change”, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin stated. Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said that the new resolution has no consideration for Russia's position and “Key points which are important for us, are missing”. (CG/transl.rt)