Russia Wednesday vetoed a Security Council resolution submitted by Britain and the United States to endorse a UN plan to reunify Cyprus, whose residents aredue to vote on the plan in referendums Saturday.

The resolution, which was sought by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to drum up support for the unity plan among Greek and Turkish Cypriots, was favored by the other 14 council members.

It was put to the vote on the insistence of the United States after two days of intense closed-door consultations failed to agree on the date for voting. Russia, backed by some other councilmembers, hoped for a vote after the Saturday referendums. But the US insisted on a swift vote.

Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Gennady Gatilov said beforethe vote that Russia was forced to exercise "a technical veto in order to ensure, in the future, conditions for normal, mutually respected work."

He said Saturday's referenda in Cyprus "must take place freely without any interference or pressure outside," but that the co-sponsors of the resolution "ignored the view of other members of the council."

Russia is one of the five permanent council members which have veto power. The other four are the United States, China, Britain and France.

The resolution was put forward early this week after Annan Monday called on the council to throw its weight behind the reunification plan drawn up by himself. It would create a new UN peackeeping mission to monitor the implementation of the plan and impose an arms embargo on the unified Mediterranean island. It would take effect only when the unity plan is approved in the referendums.

British Deputy Ambassador to the UN Adam Thomson expressed his disappointment at the vote.

"The United Kingdom is naturally disappointed," he said. "The fact that the overwhelming majority of the council did vote in favor of this resolution does send that strong message of support for the plan."

Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya said the result was "something none of us would have liked to see" and that he hoped the council would agree on the resolution after further consultations.

Diplomats here said the council was expected to reconsider the measure after Saturday's referendums.

Cyprus has been split along the ethnic line since 1974 when Turkey sent troops to the northern part of the island following a coup attempt by Greek Cypriots.

The unity plan, if approved in Saturday's referendums, will allow a unified Cyprus to join the European Union on May 1. If either side votes against it, the bloc will only admit the internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government.

Annan, who has mediated in Cyprus unity talks for four years, warned Wednesday that if the settlement plan is rejected, it "willbe dead" and his role "would have ended."

Source: Xinhua