Russia said Wednesday new UN actions against Syria are premature. Moscow also condemned as counterproductive the removal of Syrian ambassadors from Western capitals after the massacre of Houla.
"We believe that a review by the UN Security Council of any new measures is premature," said Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov, according to the Russian agency Interfax. The diplomat said that the press statement by the President of the UN Security Council concerning the tragic events in Houla was a strong enough signal for the Syrian regime and represents an adequate response by the Security Council. Gatilov commented on calls by the German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle to convene a further meeting of the UN Security Council of the UN.
Russian diplomats have also criticized the statement by French President Francois Hollande, who did not rule out Tuesday night an armed intervention under UN mandate in Syria. The French president will meet Friday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will visit France.
"We always said we are against any foreign intervention in the Syrian conflict because it will make things worse for Syria and the region and will have unpredictable consequences," stressed Mr. Gatilov.
Another Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov said that the declaration of Hollande "had been dictated by emotions."
