Israel Matzav

Security Council issues statement condemning Syria

This story talks about it as a draft (as of now), but Israel Radio reports that the Security Council has condemned Syria. But it's only a 'statement' and not a resolution.

The draft, obtained by Reuters, would "condemn widespread violations of human rights and the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities" and urges Damascus to comply with its obligations under international law.

It would also "call for an immediate end to all violence and urge all sides to act with utmost restraint, and to refrain from reprisals, including attacks against state institutions."

That phrase was a gesture to Russia and other countries that had called for a balanced statement that would apportion to both sides blame for the violence in Syria's 5-month-old uprising against President Bashar Assad.

A Security Council resolution on Syria drafted by West European countries had been lying on the council table for two months, blocked by opposition from Russia, China and several non-aligned countries.

The Europeans resurrected it this week, galvanized by weekend violence in the Syrian city of Hama in which more than 80 people died. Russia and its supporters eventually agreed to council action but insisted that it be just a statement, which is weaker than a resolution, diplomats said.

Diplomats said there was uncertainty over the position of Syria's neighbor Lebanon, a council member that has been reluctant to be involved in any action on the issue. They quoted Lebanese diplomats as saying they had referred the matter back to Beirut. Council statements are meant to be unanimously agreed by the body's 15 members.

Sounds pretty weak to me. I would bet on Bashar ignoring it.

Labels: Bashar al-Assad, Syria, Syrian uprising, UN Security Council

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:56 PM