UN Security Council to Vote Monday on Syria Aid Access Resolution
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The UN Security Council will vote Monday on a resolution to allow aid access at four border crossings into rebel-held areas of Syria without government consent, said Western diplomats, who were hopeful Russia and China will support the move.
Australian UN Ambassador Gary Quinlan, who drafted the resolution with Luxembourg and Jordan, posted on Twitter that the final version of the text had been circulated to all 15-council members.
Diplomats said the vote would be held on Monday, likely at 12 pm (1600 GMT).
The United Nations says some 10.8 million people in Syria need help, of which 4.7 million are in hard-to-reach areas, while another three million have fled the conflict.
A key sticking point with Russia and China has been a threat of further measures against parties that did not comply with this resolution or resolution 2139 adopted in February - measures that also aimed to boost aid access but failed. Further measures could include economic sanctions, diplomats said.
In a bid to appease Russia and China, language was revised to say the council "affirms" rather than "decides" that it will "take further measures in the event of non-compliance with this resolution or resolution 2139 by any Syrian party".
To impose punishments for non-compliance, the Security Council would need to agree on another resolution.
