Hague 'appalled' at UN Syria veto

20 July 2012

Foreign Secretary William Hague has said he is "appalled" by the "inexcusable and indefensible" vetoing of a UN Security Council Resolution on Syria by Russia and China.

The resolution, which would have paved the way for global sanctions against the Assad regime if it did not comply with Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan, was voted on as it emerged that rebels had gained control of some of Syria's border crossings into Turkey and Iraq.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said that over 100 people were being killed every day during the violence, which was preventing the UN observers from carrying out their mission and was also destabilising Syria's neighbours.

"Addressing crises like these is exactly what the UN Security Council exists to do. It has clear responsibilities," he said.

"…The draft resolution we tabled required an immediate end to the use of heavy weapons, and for all sides to step back from violence. It insisted on action to create the conditions for a political process, as agreed by the Ministerial Action Group in Geneva on 30 June, which included Russia and China.

"It demanded that the UN Mission could resume its operations unimpeded and in greater safety. And for the first time it would have created a trigger for global sanctions if these actions were not taken," he said.

"In the view of the UK the decision by Russia and China to veto this resolution is inexcusable and indefensible. When it came to the time to turn agreements which they have supported into action to end the violence, they stood aside. They have turned their back on the people of Syria in their darkest hour.

"…I believe Russia and China will pay a serious price in the Middle East diplomatically and politically for taking this position. Many observers will conclude that they have put national interest ahead of the lives and rights of millions of Syrian people. And they will be held increasingly responsible for worsening the crisis in Syria. But more importantly their action means the UNSC cannot perform the function for which it was designed."

Hague said that aid deliveries, as well as efforts to document and deter human rights violations and atrocities, would continue as other countries sought to end the ongoing violence and reported civilian massacres in the country.

"We are monitoring extremely closely the regime's possession of chemical and biological weapons and any attempt to use them," he added.

"…We will do all that we can do to end the killing and will rule nothing out in the future in these efforts."