Clinton Calls U.N. Veto On Syria “A Travesty”

Speaking at a news conference in Bulgaria one day after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution on Syria, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called the move a "travesty."            

 

The vote came a day after activists say Syrian forces bombarded the city of Homs, killing more than 200 people in the worst night of bloodshed of the 11-month uprising.              

 

Russia says that the resolution was biased and would have meant taking sides in a civil war. 

 

Syria is Moscow's rare ally in the Middle East, home to a Russian naval base, and a customer for its arms. 

 

China's veto was widely seen as following Russia's lead.              

 

[Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State]:

"What happened yesterday at the U.N. was a travesty. Those countries that refused to support the Arab League plan bear full responsibility for protecting the brutal regime in Damascus."    

 

All 13 other members of the Security Council voted to back the resolution, which would have "fully supported" an Arab League plan, under which Assad would cede powers to a deputy, withdraw troops from towns and begin a transition to democracy.              

 

[Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State]: 

"It is tragic that after all the work that the Security Council did, we had a 13-2 vote. There were 13 of us voting in favour of Arab League plan. We are trying to start a process for political engagement that would lead to a transition. We fear that the failure to do so would actually increase the chances for a brutal civil war.”

 

Clinton called for more diplomatic pressure on Assad.              

 

[Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State]:

"We have to redouble our efforts outside of the United Nations - with those allies and partners who support the Syrian people's right to have a better future. We have to increase diplomatic pressure on the Assad regime and work to convince those people around President Assad that he must go.”