French Ambassador to the United Nations Gerard Araud speaks ahead of a vote at the United Nations calling for a political transition in Syria. (AFP)
Over 70 countries declined to vote “yes” over fears the resolution could spoil a new US–Russian effort to end the escalating conflict, as well as over fears about extremism among the Syrian rebels.
While the non-binding text has no legal force, resolutions of the 193-nation assembly can carry significant moral and political weight. There were 107 votes in favor, 12 against and 59 abstentions—a drop in support compared with a resolution condemning the Syrian government that passed in August with 133 votes in favor, 12 against and 31 abstentions.
The Saudi ambassador to the United Nations, Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, described the decision as a “victory for the Syrian people.”
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that, “The decision demonstrates that the international community is still keen on expressing support for the Syrian people and condemning the regime that practiced crimes against its own people.”
The resolution welcomes the establishment of the Syrian National Coalition, the main opposition group, “as effective interlocutors needed for a political transition” and notes “wide international acknowledgment” that the group is the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. It also strongly condemns President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime for its escalating use of heavy weapons and “gross violations” of human rights.
Russia, a close ally of Assad, strongly opposed the resolution drafted by Qatar and other Arab nations, which the Assad government has accused of arming the rebels seeking to overthrow him. But Moscow, which along with China has used its veto three times to prevent Security Council action against Assad, could not block the motion as there are no vetoes in the General Assembly.
Diplomats said the Russian delegation wrote to all UN members urging them to oppose the resolution.
Moscow is also insisting on Iran’s participation in the Geneva II conference scheduled for June. Following a meeting with US secretary of state John Kerry at meeting of the Arctic Council in Sweden, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters that “those who participated in last year’s Geneva meeting should participate in the new congress as well. This includes key players in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, and we will work on achieving this.”
Yesterday’s vote came as Washington and European governments have been mulling the pros and cons of supplying arms to Syrian rebels.
A French official told the Reuters news agency that France was floating a proposal that the European Union should ease an arms embargo but delay acting on the decision to intensify pressure on Damascus to negotiate an end to the ongoing civil war.