UN to vote on 'too little, too late' Syria ceasefire

The UN General Assembly is set to vote Friday on a draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Syria and access for humanitarian aid, a measure one diplomat described as "too little, too late."

Aleppo

Syrian residents fleeing the violence gather at a checkpoint in the Maysaloun neighbourhood of the northern embattled Syrian city of Aleppo on December 8, 2016. Source: AFP

Canada drafted the text, part of the 193-nation assembly's attempt to break the deadlock over Syria at the Security Council.

Russia and China this week vetoed a draft Security Council resolution calling for a seven-day ceasefire in Aleppo, the Syrian city that is on the verge of falling to government forces.

It was the sixth time that Moscow, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has used its veto in the council to block action over Syria.

The General Assembly is expected to adopt non-binding text that demands a "complete end to all attacks on civilians" and the lifting of all sieges.

"Sadly, I suspect it will be too little too late," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said Thursday.

The vote will "demonstrate that there is a moral majority" of countries that are "distressed that through a series of vetoes, the Security Council has failed to provide the unity necessary to change the situation in Syria."

Aleppo map
Source: AFP

Russia dismissed the resolution, saying it would have no impact on the ground.

"To expect that it's going to produce some kind of dramatic U-turn in the situation in Syria is unrealistic," Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura briefed the Security Council on Thursday ahead of talks in Geneva on Saturday between the United States and Russia on a possible deal that would allow civilians and rebel fighters to leave Aleppo.

WATCH: Drone footage of the destruction of Aleppo's Old City

French Ambassador Francois Delattre expressed support for the Canada-led push for a ceasefire, saying "it is never too late to save lives, to assist populations in need, and to lay the groundwork for a political solution in Syria."

"The fall of Aleppo will not resolve the crisis in Syria," he added.

The General Assembly will meet from 10 am (1500 GMT) to consider the draft resolution.

WATCH: SBS reporter Luke Waters sat down with Assad in July


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AFP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world