Syria Debate UN Security Council

Independent Films, Politics

The UN Security Council took up debate on Syria, and the term "debate" is perhaps an understatement here with widely differing views on what should be done, if anything. Most fundamentally, whether the UN SC had any basis to address the current protests and violence as some contended this did not constitute a threat to international peace and security.

At a Security Council meeting today (27 Apr), head of political affairs at the United Nations said “reliable sources are consistently reporting the use of artillery fire against unarmed civilians” in Syria.

B. Lynn Pascoe, who brief Council members prior to the open meeting on Syria, added that the organization can “confirm that electricity, communications systems and water in the city have been cut since Monday” as a result of the violence in the country.

In recent days, there have been reports of killing or wounding of hundreds of peaceful protesters in the Middle East country.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported today that it had received reports that more than 100 people were killed just between last Friday and Sunday, with numerous others injured or detained.

The protests in Syria are part of a broader uprising this year across the Middle East and North Africa that has already brought down long-standing regimes in Tunisia and Egypt and led to conflict in Libya.

United States (US) Ambassador Susan Rice told Council members that Syrian security and military forces “continue to attack civilian protestors while the government continues to seek Iranian assistance in repressing Syria’s citizens.”

She called for an end to the “arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of civilians especially journalists and activists.”

Amid mounting concerns over the violence, the US had requested that the 47-member UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, hold a special session on behalf of 16 of its members. The meeting is expected to take place on Friday.

Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia Alexander Pankin, however, pointed out that “it is increasingly clear that some of the demonstrations both in Syria and the other countries hope that a deteriorating situation could force the international community to help them and to take sides.”

He added that “such approaches lead to a never ending cycle of violence.”

The Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari questioned the Security Council’s “unprecedented enthusiasm” over today’s meeting on Syria entitled “the situation in the Middle East including the Question of Palestine.”

He added that this “makes us and many others wonder on the lack of such enthusiasm for decades in attempting to end Israeli occupation of Arab lands occupied since 1967."

Yesterday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed “grave concern” about the situation in the country and urged the authorities to stop the bloodshed and respect international human rights. He also stressed the need for an independent, transparent and effective investigation into the killings.


At a Security Council meeting today (27 Apr), head of political affairs at the United Nations said “reliable sources are consistently reporting the use of artillery fire against unarmed civilians” in Syria.

B. Lynn Pascoe, who brief Council members prior to the open meeting on Syria, added that the organization can “confirm that electricity, communications systems and water in the city have been cut since Monday” as a result of the violence in the country.

In recent days, there have been reports of killing or wounding of hundreds of peaceful protesters in the Middle East country.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported today that it had received reports that more than 100 people were killed just between last Friday and Sunday, with numerous others injured or detained.

The protests in Syria are part of a broader uprising this year across the Middle East and North Africa that has already brought down long-standing regimes in Tunisia and Egypt and led to conflict in Libya.

United States (US) Ambassador Susan Rice told Council members that Syrian security and military forces “continue to attack civilian protestors while the government continues to seek Iranian assistance in repressing Syria’s citizens.”

She called for an end to the “arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of civilians especially journalists and activists.”

Amid mounting concerns over the violence, the US had requested that the 47-member UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, hold a special session on behalf of 16 of its members. The meeting is expected to take place on Friday.

Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia Alexander Pankin, however, pointed out that “it is increasingly clear that some of the demonstrations both in Syria and the other countries hope that a deteriorating situation could force the international community to help them and to take sides.”

He added that “such approaches lead to a never ending cycle of violence.”

The Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari questioned the Security Council’s “unprecedented enthusiasm” over today’s meeting on Syria entitled “the situation in the Middle East including the Question of Palestine.”

He added that this “makes us and many others wonder on the lack of such enthusiasm for decades in attempting to end Israeli occupation of Arab lands occupied since 1967."

Yesterday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed “grave concern” about the situation in the country and urged the authorities to stop the bloodshed and respect international human rights. He also stressed the need for an independent, transparent and effective investigation into the killings.


At a Security Council meeting today (27 Apr), head of political affairs at the United Nations said “reliable sources are consistently reporting the use of artillery fire against unarmed civilians” in Syria.

B. Lynn Pascoe, who brief Council members prior to the open meeting on Syria, added that the organization can “confirm that electricity, communications systems and water in the city have been cut since Monday” as a result of the violence in the country.

In recent days, there have been reports of killing or wounding of hundreds of peaceful protesters in the Middle East country.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported today that it had received reports that more than 100 people were killed just between last Friday and Sunday, with numerous others injured or detained.

The protests in Syria are part of a broader uprising this year across the Middle East and North Africa that has already brought down long-standing regimes in Tunisia and Egypt and led to conflict in Libya.

United States (US) Ambassador Susan Rice told Council members that Syrian security and military forces “continue to attack civilian protestors while the government continues to seek Iranian assistance in repressing Syria’s citizens.”

She called for an end to the “arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of civilians especially journalists and activists.”

Amid mounting concerns over the violence, the US had requested that the 47-member UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, hold a special session on behalf of 16 of its members. The meeting is expected to take place on Friday.

Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia Alexander Pankin, however, pointed out that “it is increasingly clear that some of the demonstrations both in Syria and the other countries hope that a deteriorating situation could force the international community to help them and to take sides.”

He added that “such approaches lead to a never ending cycle of violence.”

The Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari questioned the Security Council’s “unprecedented enthusiasm” over today’s meeting on Syria entitled “the situation in the Middle East including the Question of Palestine.”

He added that this “makes us and many others wonder on the lack of such enthusiasm for decades in attempting to end Israeli occupation of Arab lands occupied since 1967."

Yesterday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed “grave concern” about the situation in the country and urged the authorities to stop the bloodshed and respect international human rights. He also stressed the need for an independent, transparent and effective investigation into the killings.

Directors:

• Muhamed Sacirbey UNTV

Producers:

• Susan Sacirbey