UNSC could refuse to pass Russian draft on Syria cross-border aid - Russian deputy envoy to UN
NEW YORK (UN). Dec 19 (Interfax) - Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky has expressed regret over other UN Security Council members' possible refusal to support a Russian draft resolution on cross-border humanitarian aid for Syria, which will be put to a vote on Thursday.
"Russia puts forward its own compromise draft resolution on Syrian cross-border humanitarian assistance. Lack of support by our UNSC partners tomorrow [on Thursday] will show that this was a political game for them rather than desire to help Syrian population," Polyansky wrote on Twitter.
A UN Headquarters source told Interfax that the UN Security Council is due to vote on a Russian draft resolution and a second Western-led one in the afternoon on Thursday.
Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said on Tuesday that hopefully the UN Security Council would adopt the Russian draft on December 19, adding that the alternative document put forth by Belgium, Germany, and Kuwait is unacceptable for Moscow.
The Russian draft, submitted on December 16, proposes extending cross-border humanitarian aid operations in Syria by six months and keeping two essential crossing points out of today's four.
The Western draft, in turn, proposes a one-year extension to cross-border humanitarian aid operations in Syria under UN control and without the need to seek permission from Damascus.
The UN Security Council discussed the Russian draft at closed-door consultations on Wednesday.