Haley threatens to bypass Security Council in dealing with Syria

Rasa - The United States threatens to take “its own action” in dealing with Syria, citing the United Nation’s failure in dealing with crisis in the war-ravaged Middle Eastern country.

News ID: 428697

Date: 06 April 2017 - 23:12

RNA - US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley made the comments during an emergency meeting of the Security Council over an alleged chemical attack in Syria.

"When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action," Haley stated.

She further blamed the crisis on the Syrian government, Russia, and Iran.

"Time and time again Russia uses the same false narrative to deflect attention from their allies in Damascus. Time and time again, without any factual basis, Russia attempts to place blame on others. There’s an obvious truth here that must be spoken. The truth is Russia, Assad, and Iran have no interest in peace," the American envoy claimed.

Haley further questioned Moscow’s influence in the Muslim country, suggesting that Russia should pressure Damascus over the alleged chemical attack in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province on Tuesday.

"If Russia has the influence in Syria that it claims to have, we need to see them use it. We need to see them put an end to these horrific acts,” said the former South Carolina governor, further claiming that Washington was concerned about the victims.

“For the sake of the victims, I hope the rest of the council is finally willing to do the same," she said. “How many more children have to die before Russia cares?"

Russia’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN Vladimir Safronkov, for his part, said such attacks were provoked by ex-US President Barack Obama's threat of military action if a "red line" was crossed and chemical weapons were used in Syria.

The war of words came over a resolution drafted by Britain, France and the US, which condemned the alleged attack and called for a full investigation into the incident.

The suspected chemical attack targeted the town of Khan Shaykhun in Idlib and was followed by alleged air raids that hit a hospital, where victims of the assault were being treated.

The Syrian army has rejected playing any role in the attack, maintaining that it "has never used them (chemical weapons), anytime, anywhere, and will not do so in the future."

Russia has also questioned the data, on which the latest proposed UN resolution was based.

This, however, failed to change US President Donald Trump’s mind about the suspected attack.

“It crossed a lot of lines for me.” the Republican president said at a joint press conference with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in the White House Rose Garden.

“When you kill innocent children, innocent babies, little babies with a chemical gas that is so lethal that people were shocked to hear what gas it was, that crosses many lines beyond the red line. Many, many lines,” claimed the New York businessman-turned-politician. “I will tell you, what happened yesterday is unacceptable to me.”

Trump, who has claimed to be a critic of former President Barack Obama’s decision to attack Syria, said he had a change of heart ever since he saw footage of the attack.

“I do change. I am flexible. I am proud of that flexibility,” he said. “I will tell you that attack on children yesterday had a big impact on me. Big impact. It was a horrible, horrible thing. I've been watching it and seeing it, and it does not get any worse than that. I have that flexibility. And it is very, very possible, and I will tell you it is already happened, that my attitude toward Syria and Assad has changed very much.”

Washington has been leading a bombing campaign in Syria against what are said to be Daesh terrorists inside the country since September 2014 without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate. The strikes have led to a high number of civilian deaths.

During the Wednesday emergency meeting at the UN Security Council, the US allies also echoed Haley’s remarks.

“Our draft resolution condemns his attack and calls for consequences. All 15 Security Council members should be able to condemn this and every use of chemical weapons," said Matthew Rycroft, the UK representative to UN.

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