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Syria’s HNC to Resort to U.N. Resolution ‘Uniting for Peace’ | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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The High Negotiations Committee (HNC) delegation member George Sabra attends a meeting with UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, April 18, 2016. REUTERS/Xu Jinquan/Pool


Syria’s HNC to Resort to U.N. Resolution ‘Uniting for Peace’

by | Oct 16, 2016 | Middle East |

Syria’s HNC to Resort to U.N. Resolution ‘Uniting for Peace’

Riyadh- Syria’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC), based in Riyadh, revealed that it will be moving along with many world countries to push for enacting the ‘uniting for peace’ resolution as of Monday. Over a hundred countries will be contributing to the initiative, with 11 European countries meeting on Monday to evaluate the results of the recent Lausanne talks.

Mr. Monzer Makhous, member of the Syrian National Council and HNC spokesperson told Asharq Al-Awsat that current events reconfirm that the initiative is the most effective solution for a serious settlement for the Syria crisis.

“Exertions are ongoing, we are fully confident in the initiative which will secure us over 90 percent of votes at the UN General Assembly, in turn overriding Russia’s veto,” said Mr. Makhous.

Russia vetoed a UN resolution aimed at stopping the bombing of Aleppo, prolonging the division and paralysis of the Security Council in the face of the Syria’s humanitarian disaster.

Mr. Makhous added that the world will not stand idle before Russia’s continuous exploitation of its right to veto> World countries, especially in Europe, angered by war crimes committed by the Syrian regime and Russia against the people in Syria, are looking into establishing a mechanism to override Russia’s veto.

The resolution entitled “Uniting for Peace” was adopted, as a whole, by the General Assembly at its 302nd plenary meeting on November 3, 1950 by a non-recorded vote of fifty-two in favor, five against, and two abstentions.

The resolution resolves that if the Security Council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in any case where there appears to be a threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression, the General Assembly shall consider the matter immediately with a view to making appropriate recommendations to Members for collective measures, including in the case of a breach of the peace or act of aggression the use of armed force when necessary, to maintain or restore international peace and security.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar have exerted monumental efforts in bringing about an initiative before the United Nations’ Security Council to end violence in Syria, with over 60 countries signing on the Saudi-Qatari initiative.

An agreement emerged on 12 December, 2013, 34 opposition groups and individuals allied themselves as ‘the High Negotiation Committee,’ after holding meetings at Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. Two of the 34 members are women, augmented by a women-only advisory body known as the Women’s Consultative Committee.

France announced that “the Syrian opposition” had reached an agreement and had “adopted a common program” in Riyadh. Apart from France and Saudi Arabia, also Turkey and Qatar supported the ‘High Negotiation Committee’.