Iran says UN resolution will not help Syrian crisis
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, May 16, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman said a recent UN General Assembly resolution on Syria will not help resolving the Syrian crisis, adding that under such conditions both Syria and region are in need of peace and stability more than ever before.
According to IRNA, the Head Media Office of the IRI Ministry of Foreign Affairs further quoted Seyyed Abbas Araqchi as reiterating, 'Some of the main supporters of this resolution were expected to focus their efforts aimed at condemning the Zionist regime's invasions against Syria,' obviously referring to the Arab League supporters of the resolution.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman added, 'This move and some of the articles stated in this resolution not only is no help for solving the problems in that country, but it would also lead to further intensifying the moves and criminal acts of the extremist groups in Syria, and it is contrary to the international efforts aimed at seeking a peaceful solution for the purpose.'
The UN General Assembly voted on Wednesday on a draft resolution that condemns Syrian authorities and accepts the opposition Syrian National Coalition as party to a potential political transition.
Russia, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was opposed to the resolution, which was drafted by Qatar and other Arab nations and circulated among the 193 UN member states. Some Western diplomats said it was unlikely to win as many votes as a resolution that passed last year with 133 in favor.
No country has a veto in the General Assembly.
The Syrian conflict started more than two years ago with mainly peaceful demonstrations against Assad, but turned into a civil war in which the United Nations says at least 70,000 people have been killed. Armed rebels have emerged as the most active opposition forces fighting against President Assad.
A dispute between Russia and the United States over how to end Syria's war has left the UN Security Council paralyzed to act. They both agreed last week to convene a peace conference on Syria, but that plan already appears to be hitting snags over who should represent the opposition.
The current UN resolution welcomes the establishment of the Syrian National Coalition 'as effective representative interlocutors needed for a political transition'.
The Syrian National Coalition has been recognized by 130 international representatives comprising the 'Friends of Syria' group of nations and the Arab League as 'the legitimate representative of the Syrian people'.
The draft resolution condemns 'all violence, irrespective of where it comes from', continued escalation in the use of heavy weapons by Syrian authorities, the shelling and shooting by Syrian troops into neighboring nations and human rights abuses.
It also demands that the Syrian authorities to grant unfettered access to a UN team investigating allegations that chemical weapons have been used in the conflict. The Syrian government and the opposition have accused each other of carrying out chemical weapons attacks. Both deny the accusations.
The draft resolution further welcomes Arab League decisions relevant to reaching a political solution, but does not refer to an agreement by the league that the member states have the right to provide military support to Syrians fighting Assad's troops.
In August, there were 12 votes against the Syria resolution and 31 abstentions and some countries did not participate. Russia was among those that opposed it. China, Iran, North Korea, Belarus, Cuba and other states that often criticize the West also voted against it.
The resolution reaffirms UN support for UN-Arab League Syria mediator Lakhdar Brahimi, who recently agreed to stay on in the role despite his frustration at the international deadlock that has prevented Security Council action to halt the conflict.
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