Syria

Background

Since March 2011 the Syrian people have endured bloodshed and brutal force at the hands of the Syrian regime. Syrian security forces have killed 5,000 civilians, the majority of whom were unarmed, while thousands more are missing.  Over 10,000 civilians are being arbitrarily held in detention and tens of thousands have been displaced internally or across Syria’s borders in fear of military assaults.

The Syrian regime has shown complete disregard for its obligations under applicable international law.  Access of humanitarian agencies has been blocked and there has been no cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The regime has yet to heed calls from the UN and the wider international community to cease all bloodshed and violence and to implement genuine reform.  This view is shared by neighbouring and other Arab countries as well as Western governments.

It is clear that there is no justification for the excessive use of force by the Syrian regime.  Through its brutal repression, refusal to meet the aspirations of its people and failure to respect their basic human rights, the Syrian regime is creating instability and guaranteeing its own demise.

Latest developments in New York

On 16 February 2012, following Russian’s and China’s 4 February vetoing of a draft Security Council resolution (see below), the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that:

called for a cessation of violence immediately and calls for accountability for all crimes committed;

offered strong political support for the Arab League plan, including the decisions of the 22 January and 12 February to facilitate a political transition in Syria;

demanded immediate and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance for those in need in Syria; and

requested the UN Secretary-General, in consultation with the Arab League, to appoint a special envoy on Syria.

The resolution was adopted by 137 votes to 12 with 17 abstentions: over 80% of the membership of the General Assembly voted in favour.  UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant spoke to the press after the adoption of this resolution, and Foreign Secretary William Hague issued a statement.  

On 23 February 2012, Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was appointed as the UN/Arab League Joint Special Envoy on the Syrian crisis. Following his first visit to Damascus in this role, he briefed the Security Council and held a press conference on 16 March 2012 on his proposals to resolve the crisis and the response so far from the Syrian authorities.

Following the passage of the General Assembly resolution, and the subsequent appointment of Kofi Annan as Joint Special Envoy, Mr Annan quickly developed a six-point proposal for addressing the Syrian crisis.  On 21 March, the Security Council issued a Presidential Statement expressing support for the proposal aimed at end to all violence and a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system.

On 5 April, the Security Council issued a further Presidential Statement calling on the Syrian government to implement its immediate commitments under the six-point proposal – namely to (a) cease troop movements towards population centres; cease all use of heavy weapons in such centres and (c) begin pullback of military concentrations from in and around population centres.  It called upon the government to fulfil its commitments by no later than 10 April and called upon all parties to cease all forms of violence within 48 hours of implementation of these commitments.  The Statement also requested the Secretary-General to provide options for a UN monitoring mechanism.

On 14 April, following two-days of a relative decrease in levels of violence, and upon a recommendation of Joint Special Envoy, Kofi Annan, the Security Council unanimously adopted Security Council resolution 2042 authorising the deployment of an advance team of unarmed military observers to monitor a cessation of violence.  It laid out the conditions of operation of the observers and any future, larger force, including freedom of access and movement and freedom to interview any individuals without retaliation against those individuals.  It also condemned the human rights violations committed by the Syrian government and reiterated the need for the Syrian government to fulfil its commitments on troop movements and heavy weapons.

Ambassador Lyall Grant spoke at the UN Security Council 'Stakeout' following the session.

On 21 April, the Security Council unanimously adopted Security Council resolution 2043 authorising the deployment of a UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) for an initial period of three months, consisting of up to 300 unarmed military observers as well as an additional civilian component.  The Mission’s mandate is to monitor a cessation of violence and to monitor and support the full implementation of the Joint Special Envoy’s six-point proposal.  The civilian component will include a range of skills necessary for the Mission to fulfil its mandate, including individuals with political, human rights, civil affairs, public information and gender expertise.  Resolution 2043 also called again upon the Syrian government to fulfil its commitments, including an additional commitment to withdraw troops and heavy weapons to their barracks.

Following the adoption Ambassador Lyall Grant delivered the UK Explanation of Vote and spoke at the Security Council 'Stakeout': 

Previous Security Council Action

In response to the ongoing turmoil and lack of ceasefire, the United Nations Security Council adopted on 3 August 2011 a Presidential Statement (PRST). This was unanimously agreed amongst Security Council Member States. The statement called for:

•    An end to the violence, respect for human rights, compliance with international law, and accountability;
•    The implementation of reform and the need for a political process that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people;
•    The cessation of use of force against Syrian towns and unhindered humanitarian access;
•    Cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights;
•    An update to the Security Council within seven days.

UN officials briefed the Security Council again on 18 August, noting “a pattern of human rights violations that constitutes widespread or systematic attacks against the civilian population, which may amount to crimes against humanity.”

Vetoed Security Council Resolution

Following adoption of the PRST, the Syrian regime failed to change its ways and the situation has deteriorated further.  So on 4 October 2011, the UK, with its European partners on the Security Council, put a draft Security Council resolution to the vote. The vote followed weeks of intensive negotiations. The UK and its partners had wanted to pass a resolution imposing sanctions and an arms embargo on Syria.  But Russia and China – who have the power to block any resolution in the Security Council – made it clear that they would veto the resolution despite majority support in the Council. Over the following weeks, we and our partners worked intensively to meet the concerns of Russia and China and others on the Council. The text that was put to the vote on 4 October simply called for an end to violence and called on the Syrian regime to implement reforms. It called on states to exercise vigilance over arms sales. And committed to reviewing implementation of the resolution in 30 days and to consider its options, including the possibility of sanctions.

Strenuous efforts were made to secure agreement on the text. It received nine votes in favour.  But although the text was mild in relation to the situation and widespread international and regional condemnation, Russia and China vetoed the resolution.  The vetoes of the resolution demonstrated that Russia and China were unwilling to exert even mild pressure on the Syrian regime.

Statement by the Foreign Secretary in response to the vote.

Explanation of vote by UK Permanent Representative Mark Lyall Grant.

On 27 January 2012, following the call of the Arab League for the Security Council to support their plan to resolve the Syria crisis, Morocco (the only Arab member of the Security Council member) introduced a draft Security Council resolution co-sponsored by 14 other countries (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Libya, Togo, France, United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany, Colombia, USA).  The draft resolution, condemned the violence against the population by the Syrian authorities, endorsed the plan proposed by the Arab League for a peaceful transition and called the Syrian authorities to comply with its demands (cessation of violence, release of arrested protesters, withdrawal of the security forces from towns and cities, freedom of demonstration, freedom of movement for the representatives of the Arab League and the international media).  On 31 January, the Security Council heard an appeal to resolve the Syria crisis by adopting this resolution to back the Arab League plan by Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al-Araby and Qatari Prime Minister HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Al-Thani, who chairs the Arab League’s Ministerial Committee on Syria. British Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon William Hague addressed the Council, as did five other Council members’ ministers, all of whom appealed to Security Council members to back the Arab League plan.

But on 4 February 2012, just hours after the bloodiest day of repression yet in Syria, Russia and China vetoed the draft resolution. All 13 other members of the Council voted in favour of the resolution, which was cosponsored by 19 countries, including a majority of Council members and many Arab and regional states.  UK Ambassador and Permanent Representative Sir Mark Lyall Grant's Explanation of Vote and subsequent remarks to the press stated that the UK was appalled by the veto by Russia and China, that nothing in this text that should have triggered one, but that the UK still backed the Arab League's plan to end the violence and facilitate a Syrian led process of political transition.

On 1 March 2012, the Security Council agreed a Press Statement expressing disappointment that the UN humanitarian Coordinator, Valerie Amos, was not granted access to Syria, and calling upon the Syrian authorities to grant unhindered access for humanitarian personnel and assistance.  This was the first agreed product of the Security Council on Syria since August 2011.  The Coordinator was subsequently granted limited access to Syria.

Earlier Condemnation in the UN General Assembly 

On 22 November 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, by 122 votes in favour, 13 against and 41 abstentions, a resolution co-sponsored by the United Kingdom and 60 other states, which strongly condemned "the continued grave and systematic human rights violations by the Syrian authorities, such as arbitrary executions, excessive use of force and the persecution and killing of protesters and human rights defenders, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill treatment of detainees, including children". After the vote, Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the condemnation and the wide support it received.

On 12 December 2011, the Security Council heard a briefing from Ms. Navi Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation in Syria. In her briefing, Ms. Pillay indicated that the death toll had exceeded 5,000 since the protests began in March 2011. She spoke of crimes against humanity and systematic and widespread torture conducted by the Syrian security forces, including against children.

Condemnation by the UN's Human Rights mechanisms

On 1 March 2012, the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva adopted a resolution co-sponsored by 60 countries, including the UK, calling on the Syrian government immediately to put an end to all human rights violations and attacks against civilians, to cease all violence and to allow free and unimpeded access by the UN and humanitarian agencies. The resolution strongly condemned the continued widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental rights by the Syrian authorities and deplored "the Syrian regime’s brutal actions over the past 11 months. It was adopted with 37 States voting in favour, three against (Russia, China and Cuba) and three abstentions (India, Ecuador and the Philippines).

On 13 February High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay briefed the General Assembly on the dire human rights situation in Syria.  The UK also made a statement in that debate.

Previously on 29 April, the UN Human Rights Council voted to adopt a resolution which, inter alia:

• Condemned the violence and human rights abuses;
  
• Called for the Syrian Government to cooperate fully with and grant access to personnel from the mission dispatched by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights;
  
• Urged Syrian authorities to refrain from reprisals against people who have taken part in peaceful demonstrations, and stressed the need for credible and impartial investigation and prosecution of those responsible for attacks on the protesters ;
  
• Appealed to authorities to enlarge the scope of political participation to strengthen social justice and ensure civil liberties;

On 23 August, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a further resolution launching a commission of inquiry into the crackdown on anti-government protesters, including possible crimes against humanity.

Read Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne's statement welcoming this.

The UN’s role in securing a better future for Syria

The UK wants the Syrian regime to stop its repressive behaviour immediately.  Despite the vetoes of the latest attempt at Security Council action, we believe that the situation must eventually be substantively addressed by the Security Council if the situation continues as it is.  Kofi Annan’s role, and the efforts of the Arab League, will be critical to resolving the issue.  The UK, with its partners, will continue pressing for strong action in the Security Council to complement the strong action we have taken bilaterally and with the European Union.