Russia shouldn't veto resolution on Syria: Deputy PM

By Ali Kemal Akan

ORDU, Turkey (AA) - In the wake of an apparent chemical weapons attack that has shocked the world, Turkey’s deputy prime minister expressed hope Tuesday that Russia would not veto a UN Security Council resolution against the Syrian regime.

“I hope the Russians won’t veto decisions taken by the UN Security Council,” Numan Kurtulmus told a TV channel in the Black Sea coastal city of Ordu.

He added that he hoped the Security Council would take effective action this time.

His statement followed the death of over 100 civilians by an alleged chemical attack by Assad regime forces in the Syrian province of Idlib.

The UN Security Council will convene Wednesday morning for an emergency meeting to discuss the issue and find a way to take possible action, according to the U.S. envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley.

Kurtulmus called the attack a “grave crime against humanity,” because it targeted civilians, including children, women, the elderly, and the wounded at a medical clinic.

He stressed that the incident should be investigated and action taken against its perpetrators.

“Otherwise the whole world will be complicit in this crime,” he added.

-History of vetoes

Syrian regime forces are believed to have launched gas attacks on opposition-held areas in recent weeks.

On March 30, 35 civilians were affected by a chlorine gas attack carried out by regime forces in Al-Qaboun, near Damascus.

Last year, a UN-appointed investigation panel found that chemical weapons were used by regime forces and opposition fighters in 2014 and 2015.

However, no actionable steps were taken by the Security Council due to repeated vetoes by the Russian government.