Clinton says new Syria resolution should “have teeth”September 9, 2012 - 15:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Sunday, Sept 9, a new UN resolution on Syria would be pointless if it had "no teeth", as President Bashar al-Assad would ignore it, AFP reports. On a visit to Russia, Clinton said she was willing to work with Moscow on a new UN resolution on Syria but warned that the United States would step up support to end Assad's regime if the measure did not carry consequences. "There is no point to passing a resolution with no teeth because we've seen time and time again that Assad will ignore it and keep attacking his own people," Clinton told reporters at the end of an Asia-Pacific summit. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday after talks with Clinton that he hoped to seek UN Security Council approval for a peace plan agreed in June in Geneva that called for a ceasefire and political transition. "I will continue to work with Foreign Minister Lavrov to see if we can revisit the idea of putting the Syrian transition plan that we agreed to in Geneva earlier this summer into a Security Council resolution," Clinton said. "But as I underscored yesterday with Foreign Minister Lavrov, that will only be effective if it includes consequences for non-compliance." Clinton said she hopes for progress but is "realistic" that the United States and Russia had differences on Syria. If those differences persist, "then we will work with like-minded states to support a Syrian opposition to hasten the day when Assad falls and to help prepare Syria for a democratic future and help it get back on its feet", she said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. Armenia, India hold first defense consultations The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Naveen Nijhawan. |