After four years of disagreement about what to say, the UN Security Council finally adopted a statement on the conflict in Syria.
The statement read by the Council President on Monday said:
The only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, with a view to full implementation of the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 and, in this regard, emphasizes the urgency for all parties to work diligently and constructively towards this goal.
The statement went on to adopt essentially what diplomats agreed to do in the Geneva Communique of 2012. It lays out the steps towards the establishment of a transitional governing body, however does not address what to do regarding Syria’s president, Bashir al-Assad. Nonetheless, one diplomat speaking to the New York Times on anonymity said that mention of the “T-word” was an important and incremental step.
Though the statement is not legally binding and arguably quite tempered, it still provoked complaints by certain countries such as Venezuela whose ambassador complained the Council was not recognizing “the legitimacy of the Assad government.”
The UNHCR has registered over 4 million refugees from Syria as of August 16, 2015.
The statement read by the Council President on Monday said:
The only sustainable solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, with a view to full implementation of the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 and, in this regard, emphasizes the urgency for all parties to work diligently and constructively towards this goal.
The statement went on to adopt essentially what diplomats agreed to do in the Geneva Communique of 2012. It lays out the steps towards the establishment of a transitional governing body, however does not address what to do regarding Syria’s president, Bashir al-Assad. Nonetheless, one diplomat speaking to the New York Times on anonymity said that mention of the “T-word” was an important and incremental step.
Though the statement is not legally binding and arguably quite tempered, it still provoked complaints by certain countries such as Venezuela whose ambassador complained the Council was not recognizing “the legitimacy of the Assad government.”
The UNHCR has registered over 4 million refugees from Syria as of August 16, 2015.