Moscow opposes Syria sanctions
Wednesday 25 January 2012
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EmailRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country will oppose any UN sanctions on Syria and will continue to press the Syrian government and opposition forces to get round the negotiating table.
Mr Lavrov said Moscow would block any attempt to get United Nations approval for sanctions against Syria that have already been imposed by the United States, the European Union, the Arab League and Turkey, saying that such a step would be "counterproductive."
Russia's own draft resolution on Syria, which circulated earlier this month, remains on the table.
It condemns violence committed both by Syria's government and rebels, and urges Damascus to "put an end to suppression of those exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly."
Mr Lavrov said: "We believe that our approach is fair and well-balanced, unlike the attempts to pass one-sided resolutions that would condemn only one party.
"We will not allow the repetition of the Libyan scenario."
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