Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
New York, SANA– Syria’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh hailed Russia’s decision as “balanced and wise” in voting against a western draft resolution regarding the delivery mechanism of the international humanitarian aid via the borders into Syrian as it did not meet the legitimate demands of Syria on achieving best response to the real needs of the Syrian people.
Sabbagh Speech came in a statement to the UN General Assembly on “item 60” entitled “Using the Veto” on Wednesday.
Sabbagh added that the Syrian government had taken the decision to grant the United Nations permission to use Bab al-Hawa crossing to deliver humanitarian aid to civilians in need in northwest Syria.
Ambassador Sabbagh said “Syria expresses its full agreement with Russia’s stance and appreciates its rejection of the draft resolution, which expresses Russia’s keenness to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, aligning itself with its full commitment to the principle of respect for Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity, which was confirmed by all UN Security Council’s resolutions regarding the Syrian affair. “
The Syrian Diplomat confirmed that although the UN Security Council had established a mechanism to deliver cross-border aid based on the Resolution 2165 for the year 2014, but this Resolution was temporary and flawed path that was imposed by exceptional circumstances which are no longer existed.
Syria has expressed over the past years its stance regarding the large flaws of this mechanism, particularly in terms of its violation of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity and regarding its failure to guaranteed that such aid would not reach terrorist organizations.
Sabbagh highlighted that Russia submitted to the Security Council a draft resolution aimed at improving the humanitarian situation in Syria and strengthening Resolution 2672, which constitutes an essential pillar and contributes to improving the humanitarian situation in Syria and constitutes a true attempt to empower the Council to fulfil its responsibilities in a true and effective way, however, this draft Resolution was rejected after the three Western permanent members of the Council voted against it, ignoring the urgent needs and demands of the Syrian people.
He pointed out that the Syrian government had already taken a decision to open two additional crossings for 3 months following the devastating earthquake that struck the country on February 6 to facilitate the access of necessary humanitarian aid to that area, and extended their operation for another 3 months until August 13.
“The Syrian Arab Republic has confirmed its full openness to engage bilaterally with the United Nations and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), specifically on the mechanism of work under permission granted by the Syrian Government and prospects of cooperation and coordination between them, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Humanitarian Assistance,” Sabbagh went on to say.
Ambassador Sabbagh concluded his speech by calling on the UN to commit to cooperation with Syria. Criticizing the western countries continued politicization of the humanitarian work in Syria and obstruction of any sincere effort to alleviate that suffering of the Syrian people and their continued imposing of unilateral coercive and inhumane measures against them.
Bushra Dabin / Hala zain
