vetoing the resolutions proposed by the West and Russia about the border crossing between Syria and Turkey in the Security Council

According to IRNA reporter, the United Nations, which was closed on Friday local time on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, held an extraordinary meeting today following the expiration of the deadline for the opening of the border crossing between Syria and Turkey next Sunday.

The first draft of the proposed resolution to extend the opening of the Turkey-Syria border crossing for another year was presented by Ireland and Norway with the support of the United States, England and France.

The approval of this resolution, which required 9 votes without veto by the members of the Security Council, was vetoed by Russia’s negative vote and was not approved. China also abstained from this resolution.

Immediately, the draft resolution proposed by Russia was voted, and the Western countries, in response to Russia’s action, did not vote and veto the draft resolution proposed by Moscow, which believes that the border crossing between Syria and Turkey will be open for six months. .

Following the veto of the draft resolution proposed by Norway and Ireland, a vote was taken for the draft resolution proposed by Russia. Only two countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor, 3 other permanent members of the Security Council, namely the United States, England and France, voted against and 10 members voted against. The rest of the Security Council also abstained from voting on it, and thus this proposed draft was not approved.

After Russia’s opposition to the resolution proposed by Ireland and Norway, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield said: “This is a very dark day in the Security Council.” People will die for this vote and for the country that shamelessly used the veto today.

The American ambassador added: A vote against this resolution is like a death sentence. The Bab al-Havi border is the most effective way we can provide vital aid to northwestern Syria.

Before the Security Council vote, Greenfield said: “The United Nations cross-border assistance mechanism offers unparalleled transparency and stability.” This mechanism ensures that aid going to northwest Syria is properly inspected, verified and tracked. This mechanism also gives relief organizations a time of 12 months. Any extension of less than 12 months of this mechanism disrupts the aid delivery chain, resulting in less aid being provided to a large number of people in need.

America, England and France announced that six months is not enough for the effective planning and operation of aid groups in Syria.

Geraldine Byrne Nason, Ireland’s ambassador to the United Nations, speaking on behalf of Ireland and Norway, said: “We are undeterred by the veto.” This is not the end of the road.

Dmitry Polyansky, the deputy representative of Russia in the United Nations, called the violation of Syrian sovereignty under the pretext of providing aid to the people regrettable and said: This page of history has finally been turned and it cannot be returned. Respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, Moscow will continue to provide aid to this country.

Zhang Jun, China’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, also said that cross-border aid is an extraordinary measure and a timetable should be agreed upon to end this process and transfer it to domestic delivery.

China’s ambassador to the United Nations, who abstained from the resolution proposed by Ireland and Norway and agreed to the resolution proposed by Russia, also asked all members of the Security Council not to “give up” and continue negotiations.

The UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lana Nassiba, suggested a possible nine-month extension of the relief operation to Syria “to ensure that the needs of millions of Syrians will be met during the winter.”

According to IRNA, voting in the Security Council on Syrian border crossings has been a controversial issue for several years. On July 18 last year (1400), 15 members of the UN Security Council unanimously voted for a draft resolution that the Bab border crossing Al-Havi to Syria through Turkey will remain open for another year; Now this deadline ends on Sunday.

Last year’s positive vote on this resolution took place following the agreement between the United States and Russia, and the result was the approval of Resolution 2585. At that time, Russia had proposed a 6-month extension of this border crossing in its proposed draft, but before the final meeting in the negotiations that With the American representative, the parties agreed on a one-year extension.

Before that, Russia used its right of veto 5 times to close the border crossings and only agreed to open the border crossing of Bab Al-Havi and did not veto it.

Last year, for the first time, Russia, which has the right of veto in the UN Security Council, raised the possibility of extending the license for 6 months in the proposed draft and did not use its veto right. This vote and cooperation between Russia and America was made possible in the light of the meeting and negotiations between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, Switzerland, but now the war in Ukraine and the US and Western sanctions against Russia have turned the page and the political situation has greatly affected

Diplomatic sources told IRNA reporter that since two weeks ago and before the end of the opening time of the border crossing between Syria and Turkey, the diplomats of different countries are consulting on this issue, based on the recent report presented by the Secretary General of the United Nations. And also the important concerns of the Syrian government regarding the border crossing of its country with Turkey, can reach a satisfactory solution.

The countries of Norway and Ireland, non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, have drafted a resolution that will open the Bab Al-Havi border crossing between Turkey and Syria for another year in order to continue cross-border aid, especially UN aid to Syria. keeps .

Ireland’s ambassador to the United Nations, Geraldine Byrne Nason, told reporters Thursday night that she would continue her efforts overnight and hoped to return in the morning with a solution.

According to the diplomatic sources to the IRNA reporter, there are differences of opinion between the West, led by the United States, as well as Syria and Russia, both on the duration of the border crossing and on other provisions of the proposed draft resolution.

According to diplomatic sources to the IRNA reporter, providing a guarantee to the Syrian government that this resolution preserves the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Damascus and is implemented in a balanced manner, as well as a guarantee that the aid will be given to terrorists such as Jabhat al-Nusra and Tahrir al-Sham It does not reach, it is one of the other axes of disputes.

Russia also believes that considering that Bashar al-Assad’s government is in power in Syria, cross-border aid to this country should be done through the central government, and Syria has repeatedly expressed its serious concerns about the mechanism of sending aid through the border crossing. has announced

Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, on June 31, at the Security Council meeting on Syria, stated that the humanitarian situation in Syria for millions of children, women and men throughout the country is still dire and 90% of Syrians live below the poverty line. The Security Council resolution was extended.

The UN Secretary General added: The needs have reached their highest level since the beginning of the war 11 years ago. And the world’s largest refugee crisis continues to affect the region and the world, with 14.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and 12 million in food insecurity.

Guterres emphasized: The infrastructure in Syria is collapsing and has been destroyed over the years of conflict. Syria’s economic activity has halved during a decade of conflict, regional financial crises, sanctions and the Corona epidemic.

According to him, according to the World Bank report, the Syrian economy will be smaller this year and the Syrian people are living on the edge of the abyss and are no longer able to bear this situation. Also, the needs in the northwest of Syria are still increasing. 2.8 million people, mostly women and children, are displaced, many living in camps.

Saying that more than 90% of the Syrian people in the northwest of the country need help, the Secretary General of the United Nations says that we must have the courage and determination to do the necessary work to achieve a political solution through negotiations.

Guterres asked all members of the Security Council to do everything in their power to encourage the parties to participate in meaningful negotiations.