Russia’s draft on Syria aid calls for political solution to conflict

A draft resolution on humanitarian aid for Syria tabled by Russia for the UN Security Council’ consideration envisions humanitarian aid, the speediest evacuation of the civilian population, and the end of besieging settlements. "The UN Security Council calls on all the parties, Syrian authorities in particular, to immediately cooperate in ensuring safe and unhampered delivery of humanitarian aid to those who need it," the Russian draft resolution says. "The UN Security Council urges the sides to withdraw troops from medical institutions, schools and other civil sites in order to avert possible attacks," the document notes.Russia stresses that a "humanitarian situation will only get worse if a political solution is lacking".

The Security Council should work on the complete implementation of the Geneva communiqué dated June 30, 2012, allowing Syrians "to determine their future independently and in a democratic manner". The document also says that the only way to resolve the crisis peacefully is to find a political solution. Besides, the draft resolution condemns the violation of human rights and international humanitarian law norms. "The UN Security Council calls on all the sides to immediately stop all the kinds of violence," the document adds. The UN Security Council has started discussing Russia’s draft on Syria on Thursday. Earlier, the Security Council began debates over a draft resolution put forward by the West.The final decision on the documents is expected to be made no earlier than next week. Declarations of possible use of force to resolve conflict are attempts to disrupt Syrian peace process - Lavrov Declarations of a possible use of force to resolve the Syrian conflict are an attempt to force the Syrian government to "slam the door in face" of the peace negotiations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. "Steps are being taken, some of them publicly, such as declarations that the use of force remains a possible option, steps are being taken to politicize all humanitarian issues at the UN Security Council; probably, they wish to force the government to slam the door shut [on negotiations]. These attempts are bad. One has to honor agreements. We have done our job honestly. And we expect our partners to do the same," Lavrov told a press conference after negotiations with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"We have been witnessing systemic attempts to find any pretext for thwarting a political settlement. Certainly, we grow alarmed whenever the presidents of the United States and France once again say at a joint press conferences that the affair may go beyond negotiations," Lavrov said.