The UN Bad conscience: paralysed by vetoes
Il Giornale, August 2nd, 2011
Maybe Bashar Assad intends to kill all Syrians and to rule over an empty Country. And maybe they will let him do so, given the paralysis that characterizes the international attitude toward the cleansing actions of tanks, guns, bands that terrorise and kill anyone who steps into the street.
For the first time from the beginning of the rebellion, the Security Council doesn’t know what to say. This time, Italy and Germany asked the UN to answer rapidly; Ms Ashton had the same request, calling for an EU unanimous position, but still the European sanctions look very fragile: just five people connected to the barbaric regime have been added to an old list of 31 persons with Assad.
A modest achievement indeed after last week's EU condemnation of the regime for "indiscriminate massacre" of civilians in Hama, where the new slaughter, apparently, follows a family tradition: in the same town, Assad father killed 20 thousand people in 1982.
Yesterday evening, the Security Council awkwardly started to work on a new draft, after that, on 26th of May, Russia vetoed a previous text for fear of "causing a civil war". Then, on 9th of June, another draft resolution, that would have accused the regime of crimes against humanity, fell through. The reason was once more the usual fear of “external interferences”, as China and Russia claimed, putting thus their predictable veto. Even the Arab League, though concerned about the situation, has repeatedly pronounced itself in line with the two Security Council States.
Now Russia seems to think over, but the compulsion to defend Syria, the Middle-East Cold War pillar, allied to Iran, old companion of Hezbollah and Hamas, is strong. Even when the IAEA denounced Syria for the nuclear weapon developed with North Korean and Iranian support, its friends have kept the news quiet.
Monday night the scene was just identical a very uncertain and ineffective bunch of poor words.
Only in May, Syria passed its seat at the Human Rights Council over to Kuwait, after the Americans forced the Council to do so. Syria now has its seat promised for 2013. Actually I can envision it perfectly fits.