Russia: Syrian aid draft could lead to military action

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MOSCOW - Russia denounced on Wednesday a Western-Arab draft UN Security Council resolution on humanitarian aid access in Syria as a bid to lay the groundwork for military strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Russia announced it would veto the current text because it contains "one-sided accusations" against Assad's government, though Russia and its Security Council ally China said they were prepared to negotiate on a new draft if such a move could boost aid access.

Since receiving the draft resolution on Thursday, Moscow has been outspoken in its opposition. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described it as "detached from reality," while UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin dismissed it as a "non-starter."

But Russia appears to have softened its long-held resistance to a resolution on Syria aid access, which was drafted by Australia, Luxembourg and Jordan, by signaling it would be willing to work with the council on a new draft. Diplomats said Russia presented amendments to the draft at a meeting on Wednesday of the permanent council members, known as the "P5."

"The P5 ambassadors will meet on (Thursday) to merge the texts," a council diplomat said on condition of anonymity. "We're all working on a draft and that's good."

Russia and China have shielded Syria on the UN Security Council during the country's three-year-long civil war. The pair have vetoed three resolutions condemning Syria's government and threatening it with possible sanctions.

The United States threatened air strikes after a deadly gas attack in August, but that threat was averted when Assad pledged to give up his chemical weapons.

The draft aid text, obtained by Reuters, expresses an intent to impose sanctions on individuals and entities obstructing aid and if certain demands in the resolution are not met within 15 days of its adoption. It does not threaten military action for non-compliance with council demands and makes no reference to provisions of the UN charter covering the use of force.