The UN Human Rights Council should not be used to interfere in Syria’s internal affairs or achieve political goals that violate the UN Charter, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
The statement came after the Council had adopted a resolution condemning “systematic and gross violations of human rights” in Syria. Thirty-seven Council member states supported the resolution; Russia, China, Cuba and Ecuador voted against, and six countries abstained.
“Unfortunately, the draft resolution presented by Western countries to the Human Rights Council’s special meeting was politicized and one-sided. The latest steps by the Syrian authorities to stabilize the situation, carry out reforms in the country and launch a national dialogue… were not reflected in it,” the ministry said.
“Russia holds a fundamental position against the use of human rights mechanisms for interference in internal affairs or the achievement of political goals which are incompatible with the norms of international law or violate the UN Charter and HRC mandate,” it said.
According to the UN, some 4,000 people have been killed in a clampdown on anti-government protests in Syria since mid-March.
Foreign ministers of the 27 European Union member states approved a fresh round of sanctions against Syria and Iran at a meeting on Thursday.
