Russian UN Envoy Nebenza: US Looking For ANY Reason it Can Find to Attack Syrian Government
Washington's threats to Syria could lead the world to very serious and unfortunate consequences. This is the opinion of Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya. At a meeting with the Security Council, the diplomat has said that the Americans are looking for an excuse for aggression against Damascus and that Washington doesn't need an investigation into the alleged chemical attack in the city of the Douma.
Valentin Bogdanov has the details.
While the American destroyer Donald Cook is maneuvering in the Mediterranean Sea, the US permanent representative to the UN, Nikki Haley provides diplomatic backing for the ship loaded with Tomahawk missiles. The US' proposed resolution on a new mechanism for the investigation of chemical attacks in Syria looks like a smoke screen in which one could hide the entire Sixth Fleet. And blame Russia again.
Nikki Haley: "We have allowed Russia to do this so that innocent people have become hostage of the Assad regime. We have allowed Russia to undermine the authority of the UN. Russia is blocking all actions, they have already vetoed five resolutions on this issue".
But they hope that there will be a sixth veto. Authors of the Western draft purposely proposed to combine investigative and prosecutorial functions in the investigation mechanism. It is convenient to ensure the desired result if you induct your own people to the commission in advance. Russia doesn't agree with this. Vasily Nebenzya voted "against".
Vasily Nebenzya: "My American colleague will diligently count the number of Russian "vetoes" concerning Syria. I don't rule out the possibility that she undertook a capitalist obligation — to achieve some personal record in the reckless US policy. We use the "veto" to protect international law, peace, and security. And not to let you involve the Security Council in your adventures".
Their goal is quite clear.
Vasily Nebenzya: "In fact, the authors are driven by very different priorities. They just hope that a decision will not be made. They want this. They will put this fact in a box of arguments to justify the military actions against Syria. The Washington administration has been keeping the international community in suspense for several days, going on about the preparations of important decisions".
Russia had its own alternative, but it was predictably rejected by the US and its allies. Six countries including China supported the Russian proposal.
Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN: "China regrets that this draft of the resolution was not adopted. It provided for the creation of a new investigative mechanism to establish facts and truth. It proposed improved methods of work in comparison to the previous investigation mechanism, specific measures for thorough on-site investigation and guaranteed impartiality of the procedures and evidence gathering".
But impartiality and evidence is least interesting to those who are behind the story of the alleged chemical attack in Eastern Ghouta.
Vasily Nebenzya: "Can anyone here articulately explain to me why this chemical attack that allegedly took place in Douma was necessary for Damascus? Especially since the rebels were already almost completely evacuated from Douma by that time. And those rebels, the withdrawal of which continued on April 8, knew nothing about this alleged chemical attack. I will answer for you. The rebels needed this provocation, and then received such timely support from the US and other Western countries".
The same countries also disrupted the second draft proposed by Russia. The permanent representatives went into the negotiating room in vain. None of Washington's allies dared to go against the United States. The United States and its allies, which refused to accept the resolution proposed by our country in support of the OPCW mission, in fact, confirmed that they don't need any investigation. But, despite this, they are ready to help experts who travel to Eastern Ghouta. Security will be provided by the Russian military and Syrian authorities.
Valentin Bogdanov, Ivan Utkin — Vesti New York