Israel Matzav

Medvedev would veto Security Council resolution on Syria, but supports Obama re-election

Well, it wasn't because he bought him an expensive lunch, but it's likely that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev supports Barack Hussein Obama's re-election (see below) because he figures he will never find a more submissive American President.

Let's go to the videotape. An interview with Medvedev follows.



Medvedev told the Financial Times of London on Sunday that he would not allow a resolution to pass the Security Council condemning Syria, and that he was unhappy with where the resolution regarding Libya has gone - but nevertheless he supports Obama's re-election.

[Mevedev] said the broad way in which the western allies interpreted March’s resolution 1973 had turned it into “a scrap of paper to cover up a pointless military operation” and practically ruled out supporting any resolution on Syria, no matter how vague.

Okay, it's difficult to argue with Medvedev's assessment of what's happened in Libya.

Speaking of the worsening situation facing Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian leader, Mr Medvedev said: “I would not like a Syrian resolution to be pulled off in a similar manner [to Libya].”

The Russian president’s attitude should come as welcome news to Mr Assad, who is due to address the nation on Monday on “current circumstances”, the state news agency said. It will be Mr Assad’s first national speech since April 16 and the third since the protests began the month before that.

...

Mr Medvedev said he would not even support a watered-down UN resolution, such as the one circulated by Britain and France 10 days ago, which condemned Mr Assad’s regime without supporting sanctions or military measures.

Both countries have since stepped back from pressing for a vote because of the fear that Russia and China would veto it. Brazil and India have also given lukewarm support to the idea.

“If we push for a UN vote and get a veto, it will poison the atmosphere in the Council over Syria for some time,” a British diplomat said last week. “It is best to wait and see how events develop on the ground.”

But don't worry. Medvedev still supports Obama's re-election. He's thrilled with an American President who is willing to give away the United States' missile advantage.

Despite his irritation over western action in Libya, however, Mr Medvedev had exceptionally warm words about his US counterpart, Barack Obama – openly supporting Mr Obama’s re-election to the office.

He noted he was “friends” with the US president and “it is easy for me to work with him”.

“I believe I have been lucky in this respect at least, because my counterpart has been a modern man wanting change, not only for America, but for the whole world order as well.”

Mr Medvedev warned of the possibility of the election of a new US president “from the conservative wing” who might stoke tensions with Russia for “political ends”.

“You have kept asking me about my presidency and whether I will stand for president again . . . Let me tell you that no one wishes [for] the re-election of Barack Obama as US president as [much as] I do.”

What could go wrong?

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Dmitry Medvedev, Syrian uprising, United Nations Security Council

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:22 PM