Outraged UNSC strongly condemns attack on Russian embassy in Damascus

Members of the UN Security Council said they were outraged and strongly condemned the mortar shelling against the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Damascus yesterday, which killed one and wounded nine people, including among the Embassy security personnel. "The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the family of the victim and expressed their sympathy to all those injured in this heinous terrorist act," a UNSC statement said here late last night. The statement added that UNSC members reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. They also reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. The statement recalled the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, and the obligations on host Governments, including under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises against any intrusion or damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of these missions or impairment of their dignity, and to prevent any attack on diplomatic premises, agents and consular officers