U.N. Unanimously Approves Syria Observer Force

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

The U.N. Security Council on Saturday unanimously passed its first resolution on the Syria crisis, allowing an advance party of ceasefire monitors to go to the country on the brink of civil war.

U.N. Resolution 2042 approved the first 30 unarmed military monitors, who U.N. officials said could leave for Damascus within hours.

The resolution also calls upon the Syrian government to "implement visibly" all commitments under special envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan -- including the withdrawal of all troops and heavy guns from Syrian cities.

The vote had been expected Friday but was held up by Russian objections to much of the text. Russia's ambassador Vitaly Churkin said that "substantive changes" had been made to make it "more balanced."

Russia and China vetoed two previous attempts by the 15-nation council to pass a resolution on the crisis which the U.N. says has left well over 9,000 dead.

A new resolution with a full mandate will be required for the full monitoring mission of more than 200 observers.

The resolution called on President Bashar Assad and the opposition "to guarantee the safety of the advance team without prejudice to its freedom of movement and access."

It "stresses" that "primary responsibility" for the observers' safety rests with the Syrian government.

France's U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud said sending the advanced mission would "test whether Syria is serious about its engagements" before authorizing the full mission.

He said attacks by government forces on civilians in Homs on Saturday had raised "some doubt" about the intentions of Assad's government.

All western envoys raised doubts about whether Assad would stick to the ceasefire started on Saturday and keep to commitments made to Annan.

The resolution comes "only after the Syrian people have over one year suffered unimaginable brutality at the hands of a regime which has prioritized its own survival," said Britain's U.N. envoy Mark Lyall Grant.

Russia's envoy, Churkin, said the observers are "facing a difficult challenge. They will need a high degree of professionalism, courage and objectivity."

The Security Council ordered U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to report by Thursday on the initial work of the monitors and by Wednesday give recommendations for deploying the full mission.

Comments 9
Thumb geha 14 April 2012, 19:22

bye bye syrian regime :)

Default-user-icon issam (Guest) 14 April 2012, 23:35

bye bye syrian regime since 2005... soon, hopefully VERY soon, if not then more thousands will have to die, but eventually assads will become either persian or russian citizens!!!

Missing realist 14 April 2012, 21:10

This is another opportunity given to the regime to kill more people. There will, undoubtedly, be observers from russia or china etc and the observers will quarrel amongst themselves and everything goes back to square one. Russia arrogantly/stupidly believes that the revolution will wind down and that the regime needs more time and hence this is another buy-time chance. These were the same russian beliefs in afghanistan and chechnya. The russians supported the bashar of kabul (najibalah) for ten years and he was eventualy hanged in the square.

Default-user-icon issam (Guest) 14 April 2012, 23:32

didnt know the bahrain government used heavy artillery and fighter planes to stop the HA / Iranian's destabilise the country.. they used plain simple police to arrest undercover agents from both iran and Lebanon who are trying to destabilise their country.. ie.. shoo jeb toz la marhaba ya ghashim? aw karim???

Missing cedars 15 April 2012, 01:40

Give Bashar more time until the Iranian negotiation is over, then take care of the two birds in one stone.

Default-user-icon DemocracyRules (Guest) 15 April 2012, 03:17

Lebanese Navy Aiding Israel
According to Israel Defense Force naval officials, their counterparts in Beirut are aiding in turning ships away from Israel's waters. They are paying particular attention to small `fishing' boats that may contain explosives or terrorists.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/154697#.T4oKsdmwrGg

This is very good news. Lebanon's infuriatingly opportunistic and wind-blown politicians are finally doing something good for their own country. They are assuming a more neutral posture regarding Israel.

Default-user-icon DemocracyRules (Guest) 15 April 2012, 03:20

Lebanon finally senses Syrian weakness
Opinion is changing in Lebanon. Lebanese Sunnis are seeing their co-religionists being killed by the thousands in Syria. In some cases these are blood relatives. Hizbullah, Iran, and Russia are active participants in this endless blood bath.

It reminds me of the Lebanese civil war, where the Shia set up roadblocks and checked ID. Any man with the first name Omar was shot immediately because he was obviously a Sunni. The Lebanese are avid gun buyers and I don't blame them. Pro Patria

Default-user-icon Gabby (Guest) 15 April 2012, 04:39

Bashar will follow every observer. If they go to a certain town.....Bashar will magically make it quiet there. Nothing but more criminal delay tactics.

They need 2,000 observers with cameras, and free media all over.

Missing helicopter 15 April 2012, 06:44

Lebanon was not harmed by Bahrain, so I do not care. But the Syrian regime victimized Lebanon and the Lebanese for decades so as one of their victims I like to see them gone.