UN considers new Syria resolution

European nations seeking to increase pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime yesterday presented a revised resolution to the United Nations condemning the country’s government for its deadly crackdown on peaceful protesters.

Britain, France, Germany and Portugal introduced the new text at a closed Security Council meeting in New York as Syrian troops and tanks made their way to the northern part of the country where soldiers have reportedly joined an anti-government uprising.

UN diplomats said the new draft, which has strong US backing, is aimed at winning more support for the resolution in the UN Security Council and avoiding a Russian veto.

“We will be on the right side of history if and when this comes to a vote,” said Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN. “If others are unable to, or unwilling to, then that will be their responsibility to bear.”

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin reiterated that Moscow would not support the resolution on the grounds that it would not promote dialogue and help put an end to the violence.

“We are concerned it would have the opposite effect,” Churkin said.

While Russia does not support the draft, Churkin declined to say whether Russia planned to veto the revised resolution.

Britain’s UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said he hopes for a vote in the coming days.

The resolution needs nine “yes” votes to be adopted by the 15-member council, and no veto by a permanent member – the US, Russia, China, Britain and France.

Britain, France, Germany and Portugal circulated the original draft resolution on May 26, and diplomats said they have nine “yes” votes to adopt it, but they are hoping for additional support, possibly from South Africa and Brazil.

The original text demands that Syria take immediate steps “to address the legitimate aspirations of the population,” allow genuine political participation, release all prisoners of conscience and detainees, “and cease any intimidation, persecution, torture and arbitrary arrests of individuals, including lawyers, human rights defenders and journalists”.