Russia rejects another UN resolution on SyriaJanuary 28, 2012 - 11:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia is not ready to support another UN Security Council draft resolution on Syria, but will continue to search for a solution, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin said on Saturday, Jan 28. According to RIA Novosti, the draft, proposed by Morocco, echoes the Western-backed resolution on Syria vetoed by Russia and China last October on the grounds that it might clear the way for the “Libyan scenario” - a foreign military intervention into the country. "I made it clear that we, the Russian delegation, did not see that draft as a basis on which we can agree. However... that doesn't mean that we refuse to engage,” the Russian diplomat said after a closed Security Council meeting to discuss ways to tackle the ten-month-long political crisis in Syria. Russia has been one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s staunchest supporters during the more than ten-month uprising against his regime. Moscow has proposed its own draft UN resolution on Syria, but Western members of the Security Council have criticized it as too soft. "We will continue to engage, we will continue to work with our draft and we will discuss with them what do we think is wrong with the draft and where we can go together with the Arab League to support the political process in Syria," Churkin said. Syria is currently under several sets of international sanctions for its brutal crackdown on protestors, which claimed the lives of some 5,000 people, according to UN estimates. Damascus has rejected international criticism of its human rights record during the conflict and says some 2,000 police and members of the security forces have been killed by “terrorists and extremists.” 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 | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |