Russia excludes Idleb truce before Human Rights Council

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, February 25, 2020. REUTERS / Denis Balibouse

Text by: Jérémie Lanche

It is the most serious humanitarian crisis of the 21st century. And she doesn't seem to know an end. In Idleb, Syria, at least 20 civilians were killed in bombings of the regime and its allies on Tuesday. The regime which has reconquered the symbolic city of Kafranbel, the Mecca of the Syrian revolution. In Geneva, not a day or almost without the UN warning about the bloodbath that is preparing for Idleb. But before the Human Rights Council, Russia ruled out any idea of ​​a truce.

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From our correspondent in Geneva,

Officially, Sergei Lavrov comes to present Russia's candidacy for the Human Rights Council for next year. But for 8 minutes, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs indulged mainly in an indictment against the Western countries, accused in turn of promoting Nazi ideology and of pacting with jihadist groups in Idleb.

" Some of our colleagues voluntarily or not justify the atrocities of radical and terrorist groups, " he said. It is difficult to explain their words on the possibility of concluding a truce with bandits, as is the case in Idleb. It is not to preserve human rights : it is to capitulate to terrorists, even to encourage their actions. "

The head of Russian diplomacy had already warned a few days ago that his victory for Bashar al-Assad was inevitable in Idleb. But the violence of his remarks contrasts with those, rather discreet, of the Secretary General of the United Nations in this same forum.

→ Listen: Humanitarian crisis in Idleb: “hospitals are deliberately targeted”

Very criticized for his lack of results in the field of human rights, Antonio Guterres was to deliver a speech announced as strong. In the end, he simply stuck to a few generalities. Neither he nor High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet pronounced the name of Syria during their speeches.

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