By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, July 16 -- An hour after Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin emerged from the Syria meeting at the UN and told the Press that Chapter 7 is "absolutely unacceptable to us.. I made it very clear we are going to vote against this resolution," the UK's Mark Lyall Grant came out to rebut.
Lyall Grant said they have scheduled the vote for Wednesday afternoon. He said "there is overwhelming support for the text," but that "Russia and China still expressed objection to Chapter Seven."
This is a draft provision which would impose sanctions on the Syrian government if it did not comply in ten days.
Of Russia's and China's objection, Lyall Grant said "when challenged they were unable to come up with any convincing reasons why, they just asserted it as a fact."
Lyall Grant added that "we are happy to have further negotiations, but we've scheduled a vote for Wednesday afternoon."
Some then said that China, specifically, was saying don't vote Wednesday, but somehow might not veto if on Thursday or Friday. Inner City Press checked and found that yes, China would like more time to find consensus, but "if they're ready, we're ready." Showdown?
