BICOM

Russia has put forward a new draft UN Security Council resolution on Syria, to the surprise of Western powers. The resolution calls on the Syrian parties to end violence and start talks. The Kremlin’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin, who holds the council presidency for December, did not disclose the exact content of the text, saying the 15 council members will discuss it in the coming days. He did, however, express his hope that the draft would be passed, calling the UN Security Council’s reaction to it “constructive”.

As an ally of Syria, Russia has been trying to avoid isolating Syria in the international arena. With China, it vetoed a Security Council resolution proposed by European nations in October, which would have condemned President Assad and paved the way for international sanctions.

The draft resolution proposed by Russia supports efforts by the Arab League to resolve the crisis in Syria and welcomes the plan to deploy a monitoring mission in the country as clashes between the Syrian army and the opposition continue.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicated that Western nations would try to work with Russia in a bid to pass a first Security Council resolution on the Syrian government crackdown, which the United Nations says has left more than 5,000 dead.

Meanwhile, Syria’s Vice-President Farouk al-Sharaa arrived in Moscow where he will hold talks with Russian officials on the crisis in Syria.