This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23057745
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Susan Rice: Syria inaction a 'stain' on security council | Susan Rice: Syria inaction a 'stain' on security council |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Susan Rice has called the UN Security Council's inaction on the Syrian war "a stain" on the body, in final remarks as US ambassador to the organisation. | Susan Rice has called the UN Security Council's inaction on the Syrian war "a stain" on the body, in final remarks as US ambassador to the organisation. |
| She criticised Russia and China for vetoing three resolutions that would have increased pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | She criticised Russia and China for vetoing three resolutions that would have increased pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. |
| But the US envoy said the post had been "the best job I've ever had". | But the US envoy said the post had been "the best job I've ever had". |
| Ms Rice is leaving the ambassadorship to become President Barack Obama's national security adviser. | Ms Rice is leaving the ambassadorship to become President Barack Obama's national security adviser. |
| Mr Obama has nominated Samantha Power, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and former White House adviser, to replace her. Ms Power must now be confirmed by the US Senate. | |
| 'Moral, strategic disgrace' | 'Moral, strategic disgrace' |
| The departing US ambassador described her time at the UN as "a remarkable period", but said she regretted more was not done to stem the bloodshed in Syria. | The departing US ambassador described her time at the UN as "a remarkable period", but said she regretted more was not done to stem the bloodshed in Syria. |
| "I particularly regret that the Security Council has failed to act decisively as more than 90,000 Syrians have been killed and millions more displaced," she said. | "I particularly regret that the Security Council has failed to act decisively as more than 90,000 Syrians have been killed and millions more displaced," she said. |
| "The council's inaction on Syria is a moral and strategic disgrace that history will judge harshly." | "The council's inaction on Syria is a moral and strategic disgrace that history will judge harshly." |
| Ms Rice said the council's failure to act could not be laid at the feet of the United States. | Ms Rice said the council's failure to act could not be laid at the feet of the United States. |
| "I don't know how in any circumstance one could ascribe that to a failure of US policy or US leadership," she said, "when the vast majority of the council was ready and willing to move ahead." | "I don't know how in any circumstance one could ascribe that to a failure of US policy or US leadership," she said, "when the vast majority of the council was ready and willing to move ahead." |
| Russia and China used their Security Council veto powers once in 2011 and twice in 2012 to prevent the body from adopting resolutions that condemned the violence in Syria, demanded an end to human rights violations by Syrian government forces, and threatened non-military sanctions. | Russia and China used their Security Council veto powers once in 2011 and twice in 2012 to prevent the body from adopting resolutions that condemned the violence in Syria, demanded an end to human rights violations by Syrian government forces, and threatened non-military sanctions. |
| The Russians criticised the resolutions as tantamount to taking sides in a civil war. | The Russians criticised the resolutions as tantamount to taking sides in a civil war. |
| Despite Ms Rice's criticism of Russia on Syria, she said it was not inevitable that "complex and multifaceted" relations between the two countries should sour. | Despite Ms Rice's criticism of Russia on Syria, she said it was not inevitable that "complex and multifaceted" relations between the two countries should sour. |
| "On issues as important as Iran and North Korea, and many others, we have been able to find common ground," she said. | "On issues as important as Iran and North Korea, and many others, we have been able to find common ground," she said. |