17 Sep 2012 17:36

Russia to veto "punitive" resolution on Syria

MOSCOW. Sept 17 (Interfax) - Russia will veto the proposed UN Security Council resolution on Syria if it is based on Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which prescribes sanctions and possible military action against a nation, a Russian deputy foreign minister said on Monday.

"Our position on the resolution on Syria differs from that of the United States. They are proposing a resolution that is punitive and based on the 'coercive' chapter of the UN Charter. That is a unilateral position. That is a kind of resolution we can't accept," Gennady Gatilov said in answering a question from Interfax.

"We are against Security Council decisions that open the way to unilateral use of force against Syria," he said.