Russia, China Reiterate Opposition to Military Intervention in Syria

Russia will offer Washington no explanation for arms deliveries to Syria and together with China will prevent the UN Security Council from approving any military intervention in the Syrian nation, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.

During his annual news conference to draw lines in the sand on Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said veto-holding Security Council members Russia and China would stand firm against foreign intervention.

"We will insist - and we have an understanding with our Chinese colleagues that this is our common position - that these fundamental points be retained in any decision that may be taken by the UN Security Council," Lavrov said.

"If somebody intends to use force, it will be on their conscience. They will not receive any authority from the Security Council," said Lavrov, who also emphasized that Russia and China oppose any sanctions against Syria.

Russia has been the most vocal supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a 10-month unrest.

Russia joined China in October to veto a Western-backed resolution against Assad's government.

He said Western members of the Security Council "are categorically determined to exclude from the resolution the phrase that (says) nothing in it can be interpreted as allowing the use of force."
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The United States, France and Britain, along with Russia and China, are permanent Security Council members with the power to block any resolution from passage.

For its part, China on Wednesday underlined that the UN Security Council's discussions on the situation in Syria have to help ease tension and boost the political dialogue in order to solve differences and preserve pace and stability in the Middle East.

"China appreciates Russia's commitment and the efforts exerted to solve the crisis... we are ready to continue consultations regarding the Russian draft resolution," Liu Weimin, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said at a press conference.

He added that China calls on all sides concerned in Syria to cooperate with the efforts exerted by the Arab League to apply an immediate halt to the violence, undertake a comprehensive political process as soon as possible and accelerate reforms in order to defuse the crisis' primer. 

He indicated that China supports resolving the crisis in the framework of the Arab League and backs the constructive efforts exerted it exerted. Weimin hoped the Arab monitors continue performing their duty in Syria and create the suitable conditions to reach a resolution to the crisis.

Source: News Agencies, edited by moqawama.org