MOSCOW, August 23 (Itar-Tass) ——A resolution of the UN Human Rights Council on Syria aims to remove the Syrian legitimate authorities, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The resolution submitted by Poland on behalf of 23 countries gained support of 33 members of the UN Human Rights Council. Four, including Russia and China, opposed the resolution, and nine abstained.
The Russian delegation expressed “profound concern over violations of human rights in Syria and deaths of civilians, servicemen and law enforcers and called for accelerating the necessary political and socioeconomic transformations,” the ministry said. “At the same time, the Russian representatives affirmed that the Syrian situation must be settled by the people of Syria through a national dialog, without any external interference. International efforts should target for assistance to the political settlement process.”
The Russian diplomats “also confirmed their staunch opinion that human rights mechanisms must not be used for interfering in internal affairs and achieving political goals incompatible with international legal norms and the UN Charter, which declared the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” the ministry said.
Moscow regretted the politicized and one-sided nature of the resolution, “which disregarded the latest steps of the Syrian administration towards stabilization, reforms and the national dialog,” the ministry said. “What is more, the resolution put the blame on only one side – the Syrian government – and actually aimed at removing the legitimate authorities.”
That is why, the delegations of Russia and China opposed the resolution. “Many delegations said justly that the resolution might escalate tensions and destabilize Syria and the region at large,” the ministry said.