Russia, China, Cuba vote against UNHCR decision to extends mandate of independent probe into Syria violence

Saturday, September 29, 2012
Chart displaying vote nation-wise vote status.
UNHCR voted to extend the commission of inquiry
on Syria [Photo: UNifeed]
Geneva: Russia, China and Cuba voted on Friday against a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) decision to extend the mandate of the , International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, while India, Uganda and Philippines abstained.

Members of the Human Rights Council voted to extend the commission of inquiry on Syria, calling for full cooperation from the Syrian authorities with the commission, including granting the team access to the country to carry out their inquiry. 

Syria's Representative at UNHRC, Faisal al-Hamwi described the decision as shameful, politicised and selective, and ''highly tolerant with al-Qaeda terrorists.''

United States Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe said she regretted that President Syrian Bahsar-Al-Assad continued "to cling to power", adding, "We cannot afford to be silent".

Meanwhile China's Ambassador said that the international community should respect Syrian sovereignty and independence. Ambassador Xia Jingge said that the political transition should be led by the Syrian people and not "imposed from outside".

Syria's Ambassador said that the draft resolution did not reflect reality in Syria. Faysal Khabbaz Hamoui said that the resolution was based on "accusations which are in many cases purely fictitious such as the vain accusations regarding the Houlah massacres".
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