Russia, China slam US policy against Syria

Russia and China have criticized the United States for its policies against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “I strongly hope that the United States… would not try to resort to a forceful scenario in Syria,” said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to a report published by Russian daily Moscow News. “I cannot understand that bellicose itch,” Putin added. The Russian premier also stated that Moscow is “against any UN Security Council resolutions that could be interpreted as a signal for a military interference into domestic processes in Syria.” Meanwhile, the Chinese foreign ministry issued a statement on Monday in response to recent remarks made by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with respect to Chinese and Russian positions on Syria. During a meeting of the so-called “Friends of Syria” group in Tunisia on February 24, Clinton said Russia and China “are setting themselves against the aspirations not only of the Syrian people, but of the entire Arab Spring.” The Chinese foreign ministry said in its Monday statement that Beijing “cannot accept that at all.” On February 4, Russia and China vetoed a Western-backed anti-Syrian draft resolution at the UN Security Council, describing the draft document as “unbalanced.” The Russian and Chinese criticism of the United States policies come a day after Syrians voted in a referendum on a newly drafted constitution. The new draft constitution excludes Article 8, which declares the ruling Baath Party as the “leader of the state and society.” It also establishes a multiparty system in Syria and limits the presidency in the country to two seven-year terms.