International community slams Russia and China for UN veto

Syria and Russia have come under heavy criticism for their double veto of the UN Security Council resolution calling for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down following Saturday’s bloodshed in which over 200 civilians were killed in the city of Homs. The resolution was to back the plan proposed in January by the Arab League foreign ministers, calling on President Assad to relinquish power to his vice-president and to hold elections for a national unity government.

Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty referred to the veto as “irresponsible” and “shocking” after the suffering of the people of Homs that was witnessed by the world, according to the Amnesty International website.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said on Saturday that her country is “disgusted” by the veto. She added that for several months the council has been unable to to appropriate actions against Syria because Russia and China have been “delaying and stripping bare any text to force Assad to stop his actions.” Rice further warned that because of their veto, these countries would bear full responsibility for future violence and bloodshed in Syria. She was particularly critical of Russia for continuing to sell weapons to Syria.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accused Russia and China of undermining the United Nations.

Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin defended the veto saying that the wording of the text was unbalanced.  Before the vote Moscow had indicated the importance of ensuring that the wording in any UN resolution did not appear to take sides in the Syrian civil war.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Saturday that by vetoing the resolution, Russia and China are encouraging the current government to continue what they have been doing. He said that France is working with Arab and European partners to establish a ‘Friends of the Syrian People Group’ in order to provide international support for the Arab League transition plan.