UN Security Council adopts Russian-French monitoring resolution

Aleppo: UN Security Council adopts Russian-French monitoring resolution

December 19th, 2016 - Fort Russ News - 
- RT Russia - translated by J. Flores - 

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution today on the international monitoring of the evacuation process for the peaceful inhabitants of Aleppo, as well as for the immediate delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians. The final text of the document was agreed on Sunday during the closed meeting of the Council, which lasted more than three hours. The text contains a joint proposal by France and Russia.

In accordance with the document of the UN Secretary General to prepare the conditions, including "in consultation with the stakeholders", to monitor by the representatives of the UN and other international organizations, "the status of civilians, as well as full respect for international humanitarian law in the eastern areas of the city of Aleppo". He must also inform the Security Council about these preparations, "and immediately thereafter perform the action."

All 15 Security Council members voted in favor of the adoption of resolution 2328 on the introduction of international monitoring of the process of evacuation of civilians from Aleppo.

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin said that the original draft resolution on monitoring of the evacuation process in Aleppo, proposed by France, was radically altered during closed consultations. This he told reporters after the unanimous adoption of the draft resolution on Aleppo.

"Yesterday we worked hard through three o'clock on this project. It was radically changed ", said Churkin to Interfax. 

Moscow's Proposal

Earrier, Vitaly Churkin, told reporters that the initial French draft resolution contained a "very dangerous situation, in fact provocative <...> because it said that the Secretary-General's own decision without any preparation can send UN personnel in the east of Aleppo."

France has proposed to redirect to Aleppo UN monitors who are already in the country. This proposal was supported by the United States, but Moscow had opposed it. Russia's Permanent Representative explained the refusal by the fact that the proposed measures in the French resolution "unworkable and dangerous." The diplomat stressed that the presence of UN personnel untrained in the area east of Aleppo may result in new human losses.

"Can you imagine the ruined city, there may be somewhere more terrorists hiding in cellars - and suddenly includes UN personnel, unarmed, untrained, and start there for something to watch. That is, the probability of provocations was very high, and we pay attention to this "- said Churkin.

The situation in Aleppo

Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Bashar Jaafari told reporters today that the eastern part of the Syrian city of Aleppo in the coming hours will be completely liberated from the terrorists.

"Right now, the last terrorist in some areas of eastern Aleppo evacuated from their strongholds, and Aleppo tonight will be cleared."

"I want to tell you that right now the last terrorist in some areas of eastern Aleppo evacuated from their strongholds, and Aleppo tonight will be cleaned up," - said Jaafari after a meeting of the UN Security Council.

At the same time, according to Syria's permanent representative to the UN, foreign military officers are trying to leave the eastern Aleppo in the "moderate opposition". 

"Many foreign officers - military officers and intelligence officers, who are in the eastern part of Aleppo with terrorist groups, are trying to leave their stronghold of" - Jaafari told reporters.

As an example he cited a number of names and nationalities, among them - the citizens of Turkey, the USA, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco.

"These representatives of" moderate Syrian opposition "with foreign citizenship are trying to leave the eastern Aleppo with terrorists" - said Jaafari.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Tweeted about the evacuation of 20 thousand man from Aleppo.

Earlier, the Syrian army completed the operation to liberate the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo. It was reported that the militants laid down their arms and their families were taken out of the city - all of Aleppo have left more than 9 thousand people, including more than 4 thousand members of anti-government groups...

Militants again thwarted the agreement. They burned the seven buses that were sent to Foix and Kefraya for the people ", - said a Syrian militia source to RIA Novosti .

The evacuation of 1200 residents of the two villages was the main condition for release of the remaining militants from the eastern part of Aleppo.

"Under the agreement, 1.2 thousand people leave Kefraya and Foix in exchange for the same number from the eastern districts of Aleppo, but no group of insurgents and their families do not begin to move until they arrive inhabitants of Foix and Kefraya" - Russian news agencies reported, citing the Syrian media.

It is noted that in the territory of Foix and Kefraya 20 thousand remain under siege or there about. At the hands of the militants already about 2 thousand residents were killed there.