25 Feb 2018 15:01

Russia not to tolerate any arbitral interpretation of UNSC resolution on Syria from U.S. - Russian ambassador to UN

NEW YORK (United Nations). Feb 25 (Interfax) - Russia will not tolerate any arbitral interpretation by the United States of the new United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Syria and demands an end to irresponsible rhetoric, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, said on Saturday.

"With regard to the public statements of certain U.S. officials issuing threats of aggression against sovereign Syria. We are warning you: we won't tolerate any arbitrary interpretation of the newly adopted resolution," Nebenzya said during the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

He emphasized that Russia "demands an end to spiraling this irresponsible rhetoric" and suggests that the U.S. should engage in "the combined efforts to settle the Syrian conflict instead, on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 2254".

Nebenzya recalled that the new UNSC resolution does not apply to several terrorist groups in Syria, including the ISIL and Jabhat al-Nusra (both outlawed in Russia).

"The resolution clearly states that it does not apply to any actions against ISIL, Jabhat al-Nusra or any other organizations linked with Al Qaeda [outlawed in Russia], or any other terrorist groups recognized as such by the UN Security Council," Nebenzya said.

"This fight will continue," he added.