GENEVA, Nov. 22 – Quote from Hillel Neuer, UN Watch executive director, on the UN General Assembly Third Committee vote Tuesday on the draft resolution condemning human rights abuses in Syria:
“While better than nothing, the resolution amounts to little more than a polite request for the Syrian regime to end the massacre of its own peacefully protesting citizens. The text sends the wrong signal by including a section reminding member states to respect Syria’s ‘sovereignty.’ This language stems from Syria itself, submitted by the Islamic group in amendments to an April resolution at the UN Human Rights Council.”
“Western countries may have also held the misguided hope that this bizarre disclaimer would counter arguments by the Assad regime — echoed by Russia and China — that the resolution would necessarily lead to a NATO intervention similar to that conducted in Libya. Those that dogmatically oppose Western-sponsored initiatives will never be easily persuaded.”
For additional comment, contact Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based monitoring group UN Watch, at (646) 450-2860.
