Russia suggests alternative to West’s draft resolution on Syria aid at UN

Russia has submitted to the UN Security Council its draft resolution on delivering humanitarian aid to Syria as an alternative to a document suggested by Germany, Belgium and Kuwait, TASS news agency reported on Tuesday.

A source in the United Nations said the Security Council was considering both documents, which were expected to be put up for vote this week.

Germany, Belgium and Kuwait drew up their draft resolution extending for a year the so-called trans-border operations – the delivery of humanitarian assistance under the UN control and without the requirement to obtain Damascus permission. This document suggests continuing the aid delivery through four existing checkpoints and also adding to them Tell Abyad on the border with Turkey.

Moscow has repeatedly opposed this mechanism of humanitarian aid delivery, calling it non-transparent. In 2018, Russian Permanent Envoy to the UN Vasily Nebenzya did not veto this resolution but abstained from the vote.

Now Russia has introduced its own draft resolution calling for continuing trans-border supplies only for six months and through two checkpoints. The document suggests excluding the checkpoints of Al Yarubia and Ar-Ramtha for six months or until July 10, 2020.

The text emphasizes the need to supply aid to all Syrian areas in dire need, especially Idlib. The draft resolution also calls on the UN to improve control over the delivered aid and its distribution.