UN Security Council fails to pass resolution on Middle East ceasefire

The UN Security Council on Wednesday failed to pass a draft resolution urging all parties to immediately stop military activities and refrain from further escalation in the Middle East and beyond, and condemning all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The council rejected the draft resolution, sponsored by Russia, with four votes in favor, two against and nine abstentions. Russia, China, Pakistan and Somalia voted for the draft resolution, while the United States and Latvia voted against it.

"We're deeply disappointed," said Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, noting that many council members were not able to muster enough strength and wisdom to pass the text his country proposed.

China's Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong said after the vote that China is disappointed and regrets that the draft was not adopted. He noted that the draft resolution proposed by Russia reaffirms the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

China welcomes and supports the content of the draft, which is principled and balanced, Fu said. Fu also stressed that the draft urges all parties to immediately stop military activities, condemns all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and encourages all parties concerned to return to the track of diplomatic negotiations.

Earlier, the Security Council adopted a draft resolution regarding the current crisis in the Middle East, which was triggered by the joint US-Israeli military strikes on Iran that began on February 28 and Iran's subsequent retaliation across the region.

That draft resolution, presented by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), was adopted with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions. It condemns Iranian attacks against GCC countries as well as Jordan, demands Iran immediately cease attacks against them, and determines that these acts constitute a breach of international law and a serious threat to international security.

"Let me make it clear: This resolution is a manifest injustice against my country, the main victim of a clear act of aggression," said Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations. "We consider it unjust and unlawful, inconsistent with the United Nations Charter and international law."

(With input from Xinhua)