What's In Blue

Posted Wed 8 Jun 2011

Draft Resolution on Syria

This afternoon Council members will be briefed by Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez Taranco in closed consultations. This will be followed by discussions on a draft resolution on the situation in Syria. The resolution was circulated on 25 May by the UK, France, Germany and Portugal. Council members at expert level had an initial discussion on their positions on the draft resolution last Thursday, 2 June. While it is unlikely that the resolution will be adopted today, it is possible that agreement on some language could be reached by the end of the week.

Following the expert level discussion last Thursday, a revised text was circulated for today’s discussion. Some had been were uncomfortable with what they saw as possible action-oriented language which might lead to more robust follow-up by the Council. Another issue raised by members like Brazil, South Africa, India, China and Russia was that the Council should not be prescribing precisely how a country should reform itself politically. It seems the revised text includes language that the solution to the current crisis should be through a Syria-led political process. Other issues brought up that are likely now to be part of the draft resolution may involve language based on the G8 statement of 27 May on Syria. Also an issue during the discussions was the most effective mode for the Council to to express itself on the situation in Syria given some Council members’ concerns that Council action on Syria not escalate into muscular military action. It seems regular reporting by the Secretary-General may be an acceptable way forward.

The recent developments in Jisr al-Shughour, in northwest Syria, seem to be seen as significant as it has widened the conflict to one that has cross-border implications as Syrians flee across the border to Turkey. There are concerns that the Syrian government may begin to respond even more strongly to political dissent resulting in a downward spiral of the situation. It seems that there is no longer unequivocal support for the argument made by some members at an earlier stage that that this is an internal situation and that President Assad should be given more time to deal with it without international interference.

For more information on the original draft and background to this situation please see our Update Report of 26 May 2010.

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