U.S. ‘Disgusted’ As Russia And China Veto U.N. Resolution On Syria

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17. Human Rights Watch statement.

Philippe Bolopion, UN director at Human Rights Watch in New York, said the vetoes by Moscow and Beijing four months ago were “irresponsible”, but today “after weeks of Russian diplomatic game-playing and in the middle of a bloodbath in Homs, they are simply incendiary.”

“For Russia and China to double veto after the regime’s brutal assault on Homs last eve, after the West diluted the resolution language to suit Russia’s demands, effectively means they were helping Assad play for time and ensure his rule,” said Andrew J. Tabler, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and an expert on Syria.

In a final effort to win Russian acceptance, Arab and European Union negotiators made concessions in response to objections that the proposal endorsed regime change.

The draft that was voted on by the council said there should be no “prejudging the outcome” of the political process and that “nothing in this resolution authorizes” military action, responding to Russian concern that last March’s UN authorization of all necessary measures to protect civilians was used to bring down Muammar Qaddafi’s regime.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-04/syrian-un-resolution-turns-on-russia-s-power-of-veto-in-security-council.html