CARA ANNA
Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution referring the Syrian crisis to the International Criminal Court for investigation of possible war crimes, prompting angry responses from the proposal’s supporters who said the two countries should be ashamed.

This is the fourth time Russia and China have used their veto power as permanent council members to deflect action against the government of President Bashar Assad. The 13 other council members voted in favor of the resolution.

More than 60 countries signed on to support the French-drafted measure, in a dramatic demonstration of international backing for justice in the conflict which has sent millions fleeing and killed more than 160,000, according to activists.

The resolution would have referred Syria’s crisis, now in its fourth year, to the world’s permanent war crimes tribunal for investigation of possible war crimes and crimes against humanity, without specifically targeting either the government or the opposition.

Before the vote, French Ambassador Gerard Araud warned, “A veto would cover up all crimes. It would be vetoing justice.”

But Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin walked into the council meeting with a smile, telling reporters, “I’m going to be boringly predictable.”

Churkin, who had called the vote a French “publicity stunt” that would hurt efforts to find a political solution to a crisis, lashed out at France again on Thursday. He asked why France was damaging the unity of the five veto-wielding permanent members, who had agreed on earlier resolutions to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons and on improving delivery of humanitarian aid.

“Is it just to try once again to create a pretext for armed intervention in the Syrian conflict?” Churkin asked.

China’s deputy U.N. ambassador Wang Min added that a referral to the ICC won’t lead to an early resumption of peace talks.

Frustration has soared as the international community struggles to find a solution to the war, deliver humanitarian aid to almost 3.5 million Syrians in need and end impunity for horrific crimes. Attempts at peace talks are at a standstill, leading the joint U.N.-Arab league envoy who tried to broker them to resign.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power had her speech ready for the promised veto. “Sadly, because of the decision by the Russian Federation to back the Syrian regime no matter what it does, the Syrian people will not see justice today,” she said.

The resolution would have condemned the “widespread violation” of human rights and international humanitarian law by Syrian authorities and pro-government militias as well as abuses by “non-state armed groups” during the last three years. It would have authorized the ICC to investigate “the situation in Syria,” without targeting either side.

“It is to Russia and China’s shame that they have chosen to block efforts to achieve justice for the Syrian people,” said British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant.

The Security Council has been deeply divided over Syria, with Syrian allies Russia and China at odds with the U.S., its Western allies and other members who support the opposition.

“Russia and China’s vote for continued impunity is a disgrace of historic proportion,” said Richard Dicker, director of international justice at Human Rights Watch. The opposition Syrian Coalition also called the vetoes a “disgrace.”

Syria is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court, so the only way it can be referred to The Hague, Netherlands-based tribunal is by the Security Council.

Syria’s U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari who lobbied countries not to support the resolution, told the council that it was based on “nothing but mendacious allegations and fabricated lies.”

Power brought a Syrian activist who survived an August 2013 chemical weapons attack to the council. She told her fellow diplomats that because of the vetoes, Qusai Zakariya will not be able to testify before the ICC about his ordeal.

Zakariya he walked out before Churkin and Ja’afari addressed the council.

“I couldn’t just stay there and hear all those lies,” he told The Associated Press.

The U.S., Britain and France vowed to keep pursing justice despite Thursday’s defeat.

France’s Araud said Australia, Luxembourg and Jordan are working on a draft resolution that would “further” the Syria humanitarian resolution approved earlier this year, which has largely failed to get aid to millions in need.

Araud later told reporters in an admission of frustration: “There is a moment you feel powerless … in front of barbarians and their supporters.”

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