Thursday, May 9, 2013

Exclusive: Opposing Qatar's Syria Draft UNGA Resolution, Russia Cites Lavrov - Kerry to UN States, Letter Here



By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, May 9 -- On the pending Syria UN General Assembly resolution drafted by Qatar, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin has now written to all member states, opposing the resolution on procedure, substance and the May 7 announcement by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and US Secretary of State Kerry.
  Earlier in the process, countries ranging from India and Malaysia, Switzerland and South Africa, Brazil and at least five other Latin American countries wrote to Qatar with objections to the draft.
  But Qatar and what Russia's letter calls "like minded" countries have proceeded, collecting co-sponsors (under forty by 1 pm on Thursday).
 
  
If it's true, what UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson said mid Thursday, that the Lavrov - Kerry announcement convinced envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to stay on, shouldn't a General Assembly resolution be looked at again in this light?
  Or is it time for Qatar and the like minded to push for a vote? Watch this site.