LOC09:34
06:34 GMT
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 29 (KUNA) -- Security Council European countries and
Russia late Wednesday said they are inching towards a compromised draft
resolution that would condemn the continued violence in Syria, with both
parties hopeful the gaps between their rival texts will be soon bridged and a
vote would possibly take place on Friday.
The Council met late Wednesday to examine two competing draft resolutions
from UK, France, Germany and Portugal on one hand, and another one from Russia.
The EU draft resolution circulated late Tuesday, contrary to an earlier
version circulated last August and stalled for months because of a Russian
threat to veto it, does not call for any sanctions.
It "strongly condemns" the continued systematic human rights violations in
Syria, demand an "immediate end to all violence," call for an inclusive
Syrian-led political process and for political reforms.
It would request the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of
the resolution within 15 days from its adoption, and express its
"determination to adopt targeted measures, including sanctions." in the event
the report states that Syria has not complied.
The rival Russian draft, void of any sanctions, would also condemn the
violence in Syria, but in the draft's preambular part, call for an
inclusive-led political process, urge "tangible progress" in implementing the
promised reforms, allow international monitors and media to enter the country,
release all political prisoners, and reaffirm the need to resolve the crisis
"peacefully, ruling out any military intervention from outside."
Experts in the Council are expected to merge the two drafts and come up
with a compromised text that would be acceptable to both parties. They are
scheduled to hold an informal meeting later today Thursday.
Asked how he felt about the EU draft, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin
told reporters after the Council closed-door session "It will depend on how
serious they (EU co-sponsors) are going to be in an effort to produce
something that we can rally around. I think it can be done, but there are
still certain things that if they are still there, will make it impossible for
us to go along with," in reference to the threat of sanctions.
Asked how soon the vote would take place, he said "as soon as we have a
good resolution, It is important to work fast, but it is also important not to
make mistakes and to calibrate the message that the Council will be sending"
to Damascus.
Portuguese Ambassador told reporters "I think we are getting closer to an
agreement."
A European diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the 15
Council members are "closer together. there were some constructive comments as
we tried to bridge the gaps" between the two sides.
"We're taking on board the European text a number of elements from the
Russian text. There was certainly nothing that was insurmountable," he
stressed.
However, he added, "we'll try to keep the sanctions' threat in. We're not
taking it away. We're trying to find a way to meet their concerns, but we have
no intention to drop it altogether. We're finding a way of sending a more
unified message, so that the message is heard more clearly in Damascus."
Another European diplomat also said "the new compromised draft will take
into account what was raised by the delegations (Russian and Chinese) and will
try to accommodate them as much as possible, while keeping at the same time
the core European elements." (end)
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