Lavrov Criticizes U.S. Over 'Odious' Syria Rights Resolution

May 30, 2013

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized a U.S.-backed draft resolution condemning the Syrian government before a debate at the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday, saying it was "odious" and would undermine peace efforts.

Lavrov said U.S. support for the draft resolution, which would condemn "widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights" by Syrian authorities and affiliated militias, ran counter to U.S.-Russian efforts to convene a peace conference.

"The U.S. delegation is very actively promoting this extremely unwholesome initiative," Lavrov told a news conference after talks with Latin American counterparts in Moscow.

He said the draft was "unilateral and odious" and likened it to a UN General Assembly resolution adopted earlier this month that he said was aimed at creating obstacles to U.S.-Russian efforts to foster a peaceful solution.

(Reuters)

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