Germany and Belgium ask for vote on ceasefire in Idlib

Germany, Kuwait and Belgium asked to vote on Thursday (19.09.2019) a Security Council vote on a resolution calling for “an immediate cessation of hostilities” in the Idlib province in Syria, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.

The text, obtained by the AFP and on which Russia could veto, underlines that this ceasefire should begin on September 21 at noon, local time, and specifies that its objective is “to prevent further deterioration of the already catastrophic situation in Idlib. ” The vote on this resolution, negotiated since the end of August and facing strong opposition from Moscow, is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. GMT on Thursday.

As soon as Germany, Kuwait and Belgium submitted the draft, Russia counterattacked with its own draft resolution that has the support of China. The text should also be put to the vote on Thursday. Obtained by the AFP, this project also requires “an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent further deterioration of the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in the province of Idlib”, with a start date that was left blank.

But the following paragraph underlines “that the cessation of hostilities does not apply to military operations against individuals, groups or entities associated with terrorist groups.” This mention is unacceptable to Western countries, because it gives free rein to all interpretations and the continuation of bombings on possible civil facilities.

This Russian text may not meet the nine essential votes for adoption in the 15 members of the Security Council, or be vetoed by one of the permanent Western members such as the United States, the United Kingdom or France. Sporadic attacks continue in Idlib after four months of bombing by the Syrian regime and its Russian ally, which have killed more than 960 civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH).

Source: Germany and Belgium ask for vote on ceasefire in Idlib | Europe up to date | Dw | En24 Germany