Local Editor
The UN General Assembly passed on Friday a the resolution offered by some Arab states against Damascus, as it hit at the Security Council for “failing” to act against Syria.
The resolution, which condemned President Bashar al-Assad's use of "heavy weapons" in his battle against the armed groups, was passed by 133 votes with 12 countries against and 31 abstaining.Russia and China were among high profile opponents of the resolution.
The resolution, which is not legally binding, deplored "the Security Council failure to act” against Syria.
It condemned "the Syrian authorities use of heavy weapons including indiscriminate shelling from tanks and helicopters" and demanded that the government “refrain” from using its chemical weapons.
Saudi Arabia drew up the resolution with Arab and western backing and its UN envoy described the vote as "painful victory" because of events in Syria.
“PROXY WAR”
The UN secretary general told the General Assembly the conflict has become a "proxy war" and that the international powers must overcome rivalries to end the violence.
Ban said growing radicalization and extremism had been predicted at the start of the conflict in March 2011.
"The next step was also forewarned: a proxy war, with regional and international players arming one side or the other. All of these dire predictions have come to pass," Ban told the assembly.
Ban turned his fire on the Security Council saying it had become "paralyzed" by divisions over Syria despite calls for "consequences" to be imposed for not carrying out Annan's peace plan.
Now, with the situation having worsened, they must again find common ground. The immediate interests of the Syrian people must be paramount over any larger rivalries of influence."
Ban said the Syria conflict "is a test of everything this organization stands for.”
For its part, Syria strongly opposed the resolution and its UN envoy, Bashar Jafaari accused Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states of arming armed groups.
Jafaari said the resolution showed the "hypocrisy" of Saudi Arabia and that it had no impact whatsoever".
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Russia slammed on Friday a UN General Assembly resolution against the government of President Bashar al-Assad, saying the move a “blatant” support for the militants in the crisis-hit country. Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the main backers of the resolution were providing mercenaries and arms to the Syrian militants. Churkin said the resolution, which condemned Assad's government and the UN Security Council's “failure to act” on the Syria crisis, would not halt the civil war. "Behind the facade of humanitarian rhetoric, the resolution hides a blatant support for the armed opposition," Churkin told the assembly. The "most active" backers of the resolution "are actively supporting and financing" the militants, "giving them mercenaries and arms," Churkin said. He said the resolution contradicts efforts to implement the peace plan of Kofi Annan, who resigned on Thursday as the UN-Arab League envoy on Syria. "It undermines the chances for launching a Syrian process for a political settlement," the Russian ambassador added. China also voted against the General Assembly resolution. Its deputy ambassador Wang Min said "a position of pressure on only one party will not help resolve the Syrian issue. "On the contrary it will derail the political settlement of the crisis, cause further escalation of the turmoil and let the crisis spill over to other countries in the region," Wang told the assembly, reaffirming China's condemnation of any military intervention in the crisis. |
Bashar Jaafari Receives Death Threats, Personal Attacks by Media
Local Editor
As he stressed he was proud to defend his nation, UN envoy to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari said he had death threats and personal attacks by media in the Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The envoy told the UN General Assembly he was "proud to defend the interests of my nation against all conspiracies."
But in countering a resolution condemning his government, Jaafari hit out at the death threats and at personal attacks he said had been made by the media in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
"There have been several threats of murder against me and various Syrian diplomats from sites that exist in Saudi Arabia and Qatar and the United States," Jaafari told the 193-member assembly before the Saudi-sponsored resolution was passed.
"Saudi and Qatari media are no longer satisfied with targeting my country but have targeted me personally and members my family in an immoral way, an unethical way and a shameful way."
He said entire television programs in the two countries devoted to him had "fabricated lies and false statements to distort the reputation of members of my family."
"Diplomacy is one thing but having members of your family targeted for that is something else entirely, and I leave that to your conscience all of you," Jaafari told UN ambassadors in the assembly.
Afterwards, the Syrian envoy told reporters that he had informed US authorities of the threats against him.
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