Russian FM: Moscow will veto UN resolution on SyriaJanuary 31, 2012 - 20:29 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia indicated on Tuesday, January 31 it will veto a draft resolution on Syria that calls on President Bashar Assad to step down and provides for “further measures” if he refuses. “Russia will not support anything that is imposed on Syria,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with an Australian television news show, Lateline, RIA Novosti reported. The European-Arab draft, to be presented to the UN Security Council in two weeks, is due to be debated at the Security Council later on Tuesday. Russia has been one of Assad’s staunchest supporters during the ten-month-long uprising against his regime. Moscow has proposed its own draft UN resolution on Syria, but Western members of the Security Council have criticized it for being too soft. A number of Western countries have been trying to persuade Moscow to support the resolution, which effectively gives the go-ahead to a military operation in the country. Lavrov warned the resolution could lead to "another Libya", which would be disastrous. He also added that he will not persuade Assad to resign and that "regime change is not our job." He went on to dismiss the view that Russia will support Assad no matter what. “We’re not President Assad’s friends or allies,” he said. However, he defended Russian arms supplies to the regime. The arms Russia is selling to Syria “are not used against demonstrators but to ensure Syria’s defense,” the Russian minister said. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |