France sees Russian UN draft on Syria as positive, but wants amendments

PARIS, Dec 16 (KUNA) -- The French government on Friday said that a Russian decision to submit a draft resolution on Syria to the UN Security Council was "a positive development" but warned that it wanted changes to the text to reflect responsibility for violence and loss of life on the ground.
France also said that the issue of sanctions, which is not mentioned in the Russian draft resolution, would also have to be addressed.
"France regards as a positive development Russia's decision to acknowledge that the profound deterioration in the situation in Syria demands a Security Council resolution," the Foreign Ministry stated here.
While France is "ready to work with all her partners," the French statement underlined that "the Russian text contains points that are not acceptable in their current form".
Officials here indicated that it would not be acceptable to equate the repression by the Syrian regime to the action by the protesters in that country.
The Russian text seeks to condemn the violence on all sides and France said this cannot stand as such, France said.
"In particular, it is unacceptable to put the Syrian regime's crackdown on the same level as the Syrian people's resistance," Paris said, recalling that more than 5,000 people have now died in 10 months of "intolerable violence" against the Syrian people.
In addition, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero indicated in answer to KUNA questions that the sanctions issue was also a problem.
Russia has previously threatened to veto any UN resolution condemning Syria and imposing sanctions, a position also backed by China. But Valero said that the Arab League has already drawn up a sanctions mechanism which had broad support.
"The Security Council must condemn these crimes against humanity," Valero said of the ongoing violence, adding "sanctions will have to be discussed".
"It (UNSC) must express the international community's determination to put an end to this savage crackdown. It must lend its support to the Arab league's efforts. It must call for a credible political solution that recognises the Syrian people's legitimate aspirations," the spokesman added.
The French statement said it was hoped there would be a "substantial resolution" and this will be swiftly adopted by the Security Council in line with resolutions already adopted condemning Syria in the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council".
Valero said that given "international community's consensus on the Syrian crisis, the Security Council must finally act".
Earlier this week, France called the Russian failure to support a strong resolution on Syria "a scandal". (End) jk.ajs KUNA 161838 Dec 11NNNN