Foreign Minister Alain Juppe [sic] told a meeting in Washington that President Bashar Assad has "lost his legitimacy to rule the country" and that Paris hoped to overcome Russian opposition to a Security Council rebuke.
Mr Juppe [sic] told an audience at the Brookings Institution, however, that France believes that strong support in the 15-member security council might persuade Russia to abstain.
He said that perhaps the Russians will see that there are 11 votes in favor of the resolution, and they will change their mind.
"The situation is very clear. In Syria, the process of reform is dead and we think that Bashar has lost his legitimacy to rule the country," Mr Juppe [sic] said. "We'll see what the Russians will do. If they veto, they will take their responsibility. Maybe if they see that there are 11 votes in favour of the resolution, they will change their mind. So there is a risk to take and we're ready to take it."
Amnesty International urged the Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court. » | Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Tuesday, June 07, 2011
