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Syria strike calls a 'challenge' to UN charter: Russia

Russia is widely expected to block any Security Council action aimed at punishing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

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AFPPTI Moscow
Calls for a military intervention in Syria are an "undisguised challenge" to the United Nations charter, the Russian foreign ministry said today.

"Declared plans by some states to inflict a military strike on Syria are an undisguised challenge to the key provisions of the UN charter and other norms of international law," the statement quoted deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov as telling UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at a meeting at The Hague yesterday.

Russia yesterday stressed that it was premature to mull any reaction by the United Nations Security Council to an alleged chemical attack near Damascus before the UN team inspecting the site releases its findings.
 
"At this stage it is necessary to use political and diplomatic instruments to the maximum, first and foremost by letting the UN experts inspecting possible chemical weapons use in Syria complete their mandate and report the results to the UN Security Council," Gatilov told Ban, according to the ministry statement.

Russia, which has supported the Damascus regime throughout the two-and-a-half-year conflict, Calls for a military intervention in Syria are an "undisguised challenge" to the United Nations charter, the Russian foreign ministry said today.

"Declared plans by some states to inflict a military strike on Syria are an undisguised challenge to the key provisions of the UN charter and other norms of international law," the statement quoted deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov as telling UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at a meeting at The Hague yesterday.

Russia yesterday stressed that it was premature to mull any reaction by the United Nations Security Council to an alleged chemical attack near Damascus before the UN team inspecting the site releases its findings.

"At this stage it is necessary to use political and diplomatic instruments to the maximum, first and foremost by letting the UN experts inspecting possible chemical weapons use in Syria complete their mandate and report the results to the UN Security Council," Gatilov told Ban, according to the ministry statement.

Russia, which has supported the Damascus regime throughout the two-and-a-half-year conflict, is widely expected to block any Security Council action aimed at punishing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad..

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First Published: Aug 29 2013 | 11:40 AM IST

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