Russia Fails to Weaken Sanctions

Russia tried to weaken and delay a U.N. sanctions resolution against Serbia on Thursday, but the Security Council rejected the move and decided to follow its original plan to approve the sanctions next Monday, diplomatic sources said.

The sources said the Russian attempt upset U.S. Ambassador Madeleine Albright, who said she was “astounded and totally surprised” by the long list of amendments presented by Russian Ambassador Yuli M. Vorontsov at a closed session of the council.

Vorontsov, according to the sources, argued that “there was no need for haste” in bringing the resolution to a vote “since a cease-fire seemed to be holding in Bosnia.”

The Security Council, according to the diplomatic sources, rejected Vorontsov’s plea for a delay and decided to proceed with the vote as scheduled.

Faced with the refusal by the United States and other countries to budge, Vorontsov withdrew his amendments. But he told the council that Russia still has concerns about the resolution to stiffen enforcement of the embargo against Yugoslavia. The sources, however, said Vorontsov did not threaten a veto.