How Russia’s power of veto has prolonged Syria’s war
The deaths of more than 500 civilians in Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, has prompted a unanimous vote by the UN Security Council for 30-day ceasefire across Syria to allow access for medical evacuations and aid delivery.
More than 20 UN resolutions have been passed since the start of the Syrian war in 2011 but Russia has used the power of veto to stop 11 from going through.
Moscow – often joined by Beijing – has made use of its permanent seat on the Security Council to protect Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s interests.
Last week, Russia threatened to veto a proposal for a ceasefire in Syria if the sponsors pushed their draft to a vote. But even unanimous resolutions have failed to be upheld.
The last major ceasefire negotiated with Russia, in eastern Aleppo in late 2016, collapsed on the day it was due to take effect. More than 340,000 people have been killed and millions driven from their homes in the war, that is soon to enter its eighth year, with no solution yet in sight.
The first time a UN Security Council resolution failed to pass was October 2011, six months after the start of the war.
The council drafted a statement “expressing grave concern at the situation in Syria”, and that the only solution was “through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process with the aim of effectively addressing the legitimate aspirations and concerns of the population.” This draft resolution was vetoed by Russia and China.
To be passed, a resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by one of the five permanent members – the US, France, Russia, China and the UK.
In November, Moscow used its power of veto to block the resumption of a UN investigation into the use of chemical weapons by Mr Assad’s forces.
Russia and China also blocked a draft resolution in February calling for sanctions on the parties involved in the chemical weapons investigation, despite passing a resolution in September 2013 that called for the verification and destruction of Syria’s stockpile.
A “Joint Investigation Mechanism” was created in 2015 to identify who should be held responsible for chemical attacks. But Russia has accused it of bias and said major changes were needed for it to continue.
After the gas attack on Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province in April, when more than 80 people were killed, a draft resolution was drawn up to condemn the attack and call for an international investigation into the perpetrators.
Russia again used its veto power but China abstained at this time.