Russia says arming Libyan rebels violates UN vote

reuters.com ^ | June 30, 2011

[Tailgunner Joe]

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that arming Libyan rebels was a "crude violation" of a U.N. Security Council resolution that imposed a comprehensive arms embargo on Libya from February. "We asked our French colleagues today whether reports that weapons from France were delivered to Libyan rebels correspond with reality," Lavrov told journalists.

"If this is confirmed, it is a very crude violation of U.N. Security Council resolution 1970, which was adopted by consensus."

France became the first NATO country on Wednesday to openly acknowledge arming rebels seeking to topple Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who has so far resisted a three-month NATO bombing campaign.

It defended the move on Thursday as a necessary measure to protect civilians, arguing that a subsequent March U.N. resolution authorised the weapons airlifts, despite warnings from Security Council members Russia and China.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Maybe Russia should have the UN send us a letter telling us how angry they are.

[Tailgunner Joe]

China says obey UN after France admission on Libya - June 30, 2011 - China on Thursday called on nations involved in the Libyan conflict to stick to the UN mandate authorising military action, after France acknowledged arming rebel fighters. "China calls on the international community to strictly follow the spirit of the relevant resolution of the UN Security Council," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters in response to a question on France's admission. He also urged countries involved to "avoid taking any action that goes beyond the mandate of the resolution."

[MuttTheHoople]

Why am I with Russia on this one?

[Tailgunner Joe]

Beats me. Because you dislike France more than Russia, China and the UN?

[G Larry]

And what of Russia arming:
Syria,
Iran,
N. Korea
etc.?????

[New Jersey Realist]

As much as I detest the Libyan leader, we have no business in that country in any capacity. What dictators do in their own country is their problem not ours; we have enough problems with our own dictator.