Armenia abstains from voting on UN resolution on Syria

Armenia abstained from voting on the last UN resolution on Syria.

The UN General Assembly adopted the document on May 15 by a recorded vote of 107 in favor to 12 against, with 59 abstentions.

Azerbaijan and Georgia voted pro. Russia, Belarus, Iran, China voted contra. Among the abstainers were Ukraine, India, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. 

According to the UN News Center, by that text, the Assembly would strongly condemn the Syrian authorities' continued and escalating use of heavy weapons, ballistic missiles and cluster munitions, including indiscriminate shelling from tanks and aircraft, against population centers. It would condemn all forms of violence and call upon all parties to immediately end such acts, as well as demand that all violations of international humanitarian law cease.

The Assembly would demand that the Syrian authorities immediately release all persons arbitrarily detained; strongly condemn the shelling and shooting by the Syrian Armed Forces into neighboring countries; and demand that the authorities cooperate fully with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry and individuals
working on its behalf, granting them full and unfettered entry and access to all areas in Syria.  It would also demand that they grant the same access to the Secretary-General for his investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons.  It would demand that the authorities strictly observe their obligations under international law with respect to chemical and biological weapons.

Further, the Assembly would deplore the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the failure to ensure safe, timely humanitarian aid to all affected areas; demand that the authorities facilitate access for humanitarian organizations to all people in need; strongly condemn all attacks and threats of violence against humanitarian personnel, and medical facilities and vehicles; condemn all attacks on, detentions of and threats of violence against United Nations personnel; and express grave concern at the increasing number of refugees and internally displaced persons as a result of the ongoing violence.

The Assembly would urge the international community to provide urgent financial support to enable host countries to respond to the growing humanitarian needs of Syrian refugees and affected communities; and urge all donors to expeditiously finance support to the United Nations, other humanitarian actors and host countries to implement the humanitarian response plan and the regional refugee response plan.

Moreover, the Assembly would reiterate its call for an inclusive Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, pluralistic political system.

It would ask the Secretary-General to provide support and assistance for implementing the transition plan set forth in the final communique of the Action Group for Syria.