2023-07-11 19:09:21
Russian “veto” on extending the aid delivery mechanism to northern Syria
Russia vetoed a Swiss-Brazilian draft resolution renewing the mechanism for introducing cross-border humanitarian aid into northwestern Syria, through the Bab al-Hawa crossing, for nine months.
Thirteen countries voted in favor of the resolution, China abstained, and Russia vetoed the bill.
A draft resolution needs nine votes to pass, provided that none of the permanent members use a veto.
Subsequently, during the same session, Russia presented the text of a draft resolution of its own, which received the support of it and China only. Ten countries abstained from voting, and three countries objected to it, namely the United States, Britain and France. As a result, the Russian draft resolution was not adopted because it did not obtain the necessary nine votes.
The Russian draft resolution of the mechanism is renewed for six months instead of nine months. It is not clear whether the UN Security Council will witness a new round of negotiations on renewing the mechanism through a new draft resolution, which has happened in the past in similar scenarios.
Russian Ambassador: We do not intend to renew
During his intervention before the vote on the Russian draft resolution, which came following Russia used its veto on the Brazilian-Swiss draft resolution, the Russian ambassador, Vassily Nebenizia, said: “The cross-border mechanism can be saved only if you support our project… which includes measures to reform this mechanism.” I repeat. If our project is not supported, this mechanism may be closed. We do not intend to carry out technical renewal for any period.”
“We will not allow the veto that was used to hinder our efforts, and we will work with all members of the Council to get aid to everyone who needs it… We will work towards a solution,” Swiss Ambassador to the United Nations, Pascal Bereswil, said in her intervention following the vote.
And she added, “Since yesterday, the mandate of the mechanism has ended, leaving millions without knowing whether they will receive aid or not. We cannot let them down and stand by, and the council has a responsibility to renew the mechanism, and we will make every effort necessary to reach common ground.”
After leaving the session, and in brief statements to reporters, the Swiss ambassador did not specify what is meant by the attempt to “reach common ground”, and whether she would enter into a new round of negotiations with the Russian side and the rest of the member states to renew the mechanism and the text of a new draft, which is what happened in the past.
Peiriswil stressed that the drafting of the draft resolution with Brazil, where the two countries hold the pen of the Syrian humanitarian file in the Security Council at its current session, took into consideration, following long negotiations, the different positions. And she talked regarding listening to the workers in the field and the United Nations, which expressed the need to authorize a full year to implement projects that go beyond simply saving lives.
Peiriswil confirmed with her Brazilian counterpart, “The draft resolution provided for the extension of the mechanism for nine months (as a compromise between Western demands and the Russian demand). At the same time, we worked to ensure that the wording reflects the commitment to humanitarian aid reaching everyone who needs it, and this includes a paragraph on aid across the lines of contact.” (passing through territory controlled by the regime and with its consent) and more funding, strengthening early recovery and demining activities and creating conditions for the voluntary return of refugees.”
America’s ambassador criticizes Russia: It is not the behavior of a responsible country
In addition, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said before the start of the voting process on the Swiss-Brazilian draft resolution: “We know that this mechanism is the most rigorous in terms of monitoring… In the followingmath of the earthquake, we raised the level of our assistance… in order to be It is clear that the needs of the Syrian people will not be met if this aid does not reach them.
And Greenfield continued: “Once the Bab al-Hawa crossing is closed, the volume of aid that reaches the Syrian people will decrease. Humanitarian organizations are calling for an extension to work through the three crossings for a period of at least one year. (Syrian regime president Bashar) al-Assad said that he will keep these crossings open following the 13th of August. August, as we have heard from some member states of the Council… If he does not fulfill this, we will present this to the Council during our presidency of the Security Council (next month).”
The American ambassador asked for the floor once more following Russia used the veto, and following voting on the Russian draft and not adopting it, and said: “Either things are as we want or they are not. This is the Russian negotiating method… This is not the behavior of a responsible country… Russia was not forced to Using the veto, it chose it… We call on Russia to reconsider its position.”
It is noteworthy in this context that it is expected that the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly will request a meeting to discuss Russia’s use of the veto within two weeks, a procedure that began to be implemented nearly a year ago following the Assembly adopted a resolution according to which the Assembly must hold a meeting in which states explain their positions on the issue, and the state’s progress Which used the veto reasons.
For his part, the official spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, expressed the disappointment of the Secretary-General, António Guterres, at the Council’s inability to renew the mechanism, especially at a time when the volume of needs in Syria has reached its highest levels.
The Syrian regime had allowed the entry of aid through additional border crossings, namely Bab al-Rai and Bab al-Salam, following the recent February earthquake, and for a limited period that was renewed until the 13th of next month. And because the United Nations operates on the principle of the sovereignty of states over its territory, in order to enter aid across the borders of a country, it needs the approval of the government of that country (including the Syrian case and areas that are outside the control of the regime, because they are still considered the official borders). And if the government of that country does not agree to that, then it needs Security Council authorization, which has happened since 2014 and the cross-border mechanism.
In this context, Dujarric indicated that the United Nations will continue to provide aid through Bab al-Salam and al-Rahi until the 13th of next month. At the same time, he stressed that the United Nations provides most of its humanitarian aid to the northwest through Bab al-Hawa, not Bab al-Rai and al-Salam.
Yesterday, the United Nations Humanitarian Aid Office announced that 79 trucks entered, yesterday, Monday, through the Bab al-Hawa crossing into northwestern Syria.
The statement stated that the aid “carries humanitarian supplies from the World Food Program and the International Organization for Migration. Another 19 trucks loaded with aid entered through the Bab al-Salam crossing.”
The UN Security Council started the cross-border mechanism in 2014, and cross-border aid entered through four border crossings, Bab al-Hawa and al-Salam from Turkey, and additional crossings from Jordan and Iraq. With the passage of time, and due to Russian objections, with Chinese support, the number of border crossings through which aid is entered into the northwest and areas outside the control of the regime began to be reduced to one crossing, which is Bab al-Hawa, until last night.
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