UNITED NATIONS, Feb 3: After days of intense and gruelling negotiations, diplomats here said that the latest version of a European-Arab draft resolution endorsing an Arab League plan which does not include reference to the Syrian president stepping down paved way for an agreement.

However, the diplomats here remained weary whether Russia would go along with the watered-down language.

A vote is expected on Monday and a Pakistani diplomat told Dawn the resolution was likely to be adopted unanimously.

On Thursday, Morocco had circulated an amended draft resolution to the Security Council after Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told a closed-door session of the 15-nation body that he would veto the draft if it were put to vote on Friday with a phrase saying the council “fully supports” an Arab League plan calling for Syria’s president to step aside.

“He made the threat but I don’t think he’ll necessarily have to follow through with it,” one diplomat said on condition of anonymity “We included some new language that Russia wanted.”