Head of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Nasr Hariri, slammed Russia’s actions in Syria and the way it interpreted UN Security Council resolution 2401. He stressed that Russia’s actions had rendered the UN resolution useless as he warned that the resolution might become counterproductive.
Hariri on Tuesday said that the UN resolution 2401 “has become meaningless following Russia’s announcement of a daily ceasefire and the opening of safe passages for civilians to leave eastern Ghouta.” He noted that the move is aimed at “emptying eastern Ghouta of its people to bring about a demographic change in the area,” describing the announcement as “utterly unacceptable.”
Hariri pointed out that Moscow is “undermining all chances for a political solution by the commission of more crimes against the Syrian people and the issuance of provocative, misleading statements that have exposed Russia’s real intentions.” He stressed that the Syrian people will stick to their demands for the departure of the criminal Bashar al-Assad, slamming the Russian position which sees in such demands a form of extremism.
Russia on Monday announced it would implement a five-hour unilateral truce in eastern Ghouta, contrary to calls by UN Security Council resolution 2401 for a 30-day truce. It also said it would establish an evacuation corridor to allow people to leave the besieged Damascus suburb. As per UN resolution 2401, these corridors were supposed to be used for the introduction of humanitarian aid to the trapped civilians.
The Commission’s spokesman, Yahya Aridi, said that “there was no difference between the use of veto on the UN Security Council and the veto on the ground. “Criminal Putin used the 12th veto in eastern Ghouta,” Aridi said, stressimg that all Russian and Iranian forces are legitimate targets along with the entire tyrannical Assad regime.
UN Security Council on Saturday and following repeated delays unanimously adopted resolution 2401 calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.
Local activists said that the resolution was not implemented as Russian and Assad regime forces continued their ground and aerial attacks in eastern Ghouta, killing dozens of civilians. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
