Anti-Syria resolution against UN principles: Iran

A top Iranian official says adopting an anti-Syria UN resolution at a time when President Bashar al-Assad is trying to implement major reforms is against the world body’s principles and obligations.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Friday criticized the double-standard UN approach to Syria, stressing that such policies will not help establish peace and stability in the Middle East.

Amir-Abdollahian also called on the Arab League to adopt logical and neutral policies towards the Syrian unrest, explore the capabilities of Muslim nations, and assist restoration of stability and security in Syria.

The United Nations General Assembly on February 16 adopted an Arab League-sponsored resolution on Syria for what it calls the government’s crackdown on opposition protests.

A total of 137 members of the UN voted in favor of the resolution while 12 members including Iran, Russia and China voted against the measure.

The non-binding resolution was drafted by the Arab League and backed by the United States and Britain.

The UN resolution came as the Syrian government has declared February 26 as the date for a referendum on the country’s new draft constitution.

“President Bashar al-Assad issued today a decree setting Sunday, February 26, as the date for the referendum on the draft constitution,” Syria’s state-run SANA news agency reported on February 15.

The report added that Assad made the decision after he received the draft form a committee set up in October to draw up the new constitution. The Syrian president would then send the draft to the People’s Assembly for a vote.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March last year.

While the West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of the killings, Damascus blames ”outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups” for the unrest that erupted in mid-March, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.

In interviews with Zionist Occupation Israeli news outlets over the past few months, the U.S-backed and financed Syrian armed rebels have clearly expressed their vision for the future of Syria and their interest in establishing relations with the Tel Aviv regime.

However, Syrian people have repeatedly displayed solidarity with the government.