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U.N. Security Council agrees on resolution urging Syria to halt attacks, allow aid access U.N. Security Council agrees on resolution urging Syria to halt attacks, allow aid access
(35 minutes later)
The U.N. Security Council on Saturday unanimously approved a resolution calling on the Syrian government to immediately halt attacks on civilians and allow unfettered humanitarian access to besieged areas and across neighboring borders, threatening unspecified “further steps” if the government does not comply.The U.N. Security Council on Saturday unanimously approved a resolution calling on the Syrian government to immediately halt attacks on civilians and allow unfettered humanitarian access to besieged areas and across neighboring borders, threatening unspecified “further steps” if the government does not comply.
The action marked the first time Russia has agreed to a binding resolution against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime since the conflict in his country began nearly three years ago. China, which vetoed three previous resolutions along with Russia, joined in approving the measure. The action marked the first time Russia has agreed to a binding resolution against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime since the conflict in his country began nearly three years ago. China, which vetoed three previous resolutions along with Russia, joined in approving the measure.
The vote came after lengthy negotiations over the past week, and after resolution sponsors agreed to include strong calls for opposition fighters to cease their own violations of international and human rights law and to condemn terrorism. The vote came after lengthy negotiations over the past week and after resolution sponsors agreed to include strong calls for opposition fighters to cease their own violations of international and human rights law and to condemn terrorism.
In a statement following the vote, Russian representative Vitaly Churkin described the two sides as equally responsible for the situation in Syria and said that genuine opposition forces should “pool efforts with the government” to fight against terrorism.In a statement following the vote, Russian representative Vitaly Churkin described the two sides as equally responsible for the situation in Syria and said that genuine opposition forces should “pool efforts with the government” to fight against terrorism.
But the United States and others made clear that they see the resolution as directed primarily at the Assad government. Rejecting the assertion that Syria’s humanitarian crisis is “the inevitable consequence of war,” U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said: “I say it is the result of willful actions by specific individuals” in the “Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad, adding, “I refer to him and his security forces.” But the United States and others made clear that they see the resolution as directed primarily at the Assad government. Rejecting the assertion that Syria’s humanitarian crisis is “the inevitable consequence of war,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said: “I say it is the result of willful actions by specific individuals” in the “Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad, adding: “I refer to him and his security forces.”
Chiding the council’s members for their inability to come together for the past three years, Power said “it is a gross understatement to say it should not have taken this long.” Chiding the council’s members for their inability to come together for the past three years, Power said: “it is a gross understatement to say it should not have taken this long.”
While Churkin hailed recent reports of government-initiated cease-fires and aid deliveries in long-besieged areas south of Damascus, other diplomats used their statements to blame the government for what U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called a “profoundly shocking” situation in which millions have been driven from their homes and more than 100,000 have been killed. Although Churkin hailed recent reports of government-initiated cease-fires and aid deliveries in long-besieged areas south of Damascus, other diplomats used their statements to blame the government for what U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called a “profoundly shocking” situation in which millions have been driven from their homes and more than 100,000 have been killed.
The resolution calls for Ban to report to the Council within 30 days on whether all sides are complying with the resolution.The resolution calls for Ban to report to the Council within 30 days on whether all sides are complying with the resolution.