Calls for renewed international action over Syria
- 12 years ago
British Foreign Secretary William Hague arrives in Moscow to push his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to take action over the on-going violence in Syria.
The long-planned trip took on increased urgency following a massacre last week of more than 100 people in the Syrian town of Houla.
Hague is asking Moscow to put pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to adopt a truce backed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE, SAYING:
"It is not as if the alternatives in Syria are the Annan plan or the Assad regime retaining control of the country. The alternatives are the Annan plan or ever increasing chaos in Syrian and a descent closer and closer into all out civil war and collapse,"
Russia, along with China, has vetoed two Security Council resolutions calling for tougher action against Damascus.
Lavrov said that Russia supports political dialogue in Syria, but called upon external players to respect the independence and territorial integrity of the state.
Although the ceasefire plan has failed to stop the violence, the head of the U.N. Mission in Syria General Robert Mood says he sees "positive signs" of change.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ROBERT MOOD, UNITED NATIONS SUPERVISION MISSION IN SYRIA CHIEF, SAYING:
"We are pushing very hard for activities in villages, for dialogue and for stability I am seeing positive signs on the situation related to that dialogue."
Mood was to brief Kofi Annan when the U.N.-Arab League envoy arrives in Damascus later on Monday.
Sarah Sheffer, Reuters.
The long-planned trip took on increased urgency following a massacre last week of more than 100 people in the Syrian town of Houla.
Hague is asking Moscow to put pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to adopt a truce backed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE, SAYING:
"It is not as if the alternatives in Syria are the Annan plan or the Assad regime retaining control of the country. The alternatives are the Annan plan or ever increasing chaos in Syrian and a descent closer and closer into all out civil war and collapse,"
Russia, along with China, has vetoed two Security Council resolutions calling for tougher action against Damascus.
Lavrov said that Russia supports political dialogue in Syria, but called upon external players to respect the independence and territorial integrity of the state.
Although the ceasefire plan has failed to stop the violence, the head of the U.N. Mission in Syria General Robert Mood says he sees "positive signs" of change.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ROBERT MOOD, UNITED NATIONS SUPERVISION MISSION IN SYRIA CHIEF, SAYING:
"We are pushing very hard for activities in villages, for dialogue and for stability I am seeing positive signs on the situation related to that dialogue."
Mood was to brief Kofi Annan when the U.N.-Arab League envoy arrives in Damascus later on Monday.
Sarah Sheffer, Reuters.