By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, February 1 -- With Syria the main topic in the UN Security Council, many have focused on Russia and its veto, when it would use it and why.
Inner City Press learned last week that in a closed door meeting last month on Security Council reform Russia's Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin said that his country didn't win UN veto power in "a lottery, but as a result of battle."
Wednesday Inner City Press asked Churkin about his statement, and push back by an African country that they too had suffered in World War Two. "I'm sure they did," Churkin said, "in different ways."
Churkin paused, then continued, "I hope people understand, some of them argue with all due respect without realizing the consequences for their own national interest for stripping us of the veto powers. When they find themselves in a hot spot without anyone being able to exercise the veto, they will come to regret it. Things happen."
Asked about previous vetoes, Churkin told Inner City Press that since he's been at the UN, Russia has cast only four vetoes.
"Two had really nothing to do with our national interest," Churkin said. "On Myanmar ASEAN was saying it was wrong. On Zimbabwe, the African Union was saying it was wrong. I had Ambassador [Dumisani] Kumalo next to me saying that if it was adopted he'd have thousands of refugees. So we just vetoed it." He added, "Now Myanmar is progressing peacefully."
He did not go into detail on the other two vetoes: the end the UN observer mission in Abkhazia, and on the last Syria resolution -- and next the next one.
Instead, Churkin paused before issuing a sort of aphorism on the veto, calling it "about the protection of the rights of minorities in the United Nations."
There are sure to be many views of Churkin's statements. But for now one can say: while the work of some in the Council and in their capitals seems directed at guilting Russia into not using its veto, Russia can articulate a counter-narrative, of "heroic vetoing" to "protect the rights of minorities." Alawites might be minorities -- but Assad is decidedly in a "hot spot." Watch this site.
