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Prosor: Syrian Regime Capable of Using Chemical Weapons |
4 August 2012Ambassador to UN tells GA, “We shouldn't pretend a regime that cuts throats of children today will not be prepared to gas them tomorrow”; UNGA approves non-binding resolution expressing "grave concern" at Syria escalation.
Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor slammed Syria for its chemical weapons and warned the UN General Assembly about their potential use on Friday.
“We should not pretend that a regime that cuts the throats of children today will not be prepared to gas them tomorrow,” he said.
Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor slammed Syria for its chemical weapons and warned the UN General Assembly about their potential use on Friday.
“We should not pretend that a regime that cuts the throats of children today will not be prepared to gas them tomorrow,” he said.
Russia and China have routinely blocked more aggressive Security Council action to pressure Syrian President Bashar Assad from killing civilians and opposition groups with whom he has been battling for 17 months.
No country has veto power over the non-binding General Assembly statements, and Friday’s resolution included much of the language in previously vetoed Security Council resolutions.
Though the General Assembly move lacks power, it was seen by Western powers as an important sign of Syria’s isolation and means of shaming Russia and China.
"This vote shines the spotlight on Russia and China and humiliates them in a way that they don't like," a UN diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
Britain's UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told reporters after the vote that a "colossal majority" supported the resolution, which had been revised to remove language explicitly backing Arab League calls for Assad to step down and urging states to implement sanctions against Damascus.
But the resolution still welcomes an Arab League decision calling for Assad to step aside, without giving details of that decision.
Those revisions secured the support of dozens of countries that might have opposed it otherwise, UN diplomats said.
Saudi Arabia's Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi said "the number of votes in favor has exceeded all of our expectations."
Israel’s ambassador also declared Syria the victor in falsehoods. “Over the course of several debates, the Syrian representative has managed to take the art of fabrication in this hall to new heights. If lying was an Olympic event, I have no doubt that the Syrian regime and its representatives could easily win a gold medal,” Prosor charged.
And he pointed to the Iranian involvement in what’s happening in Syria, a close ally of Tehran.
“On the ground, Iranians are assisting Assad's henchmen,” he charged. “The outside forces that have been instrumental in the slaughter in Syria speak in a Persian accent. Unfortunately, many in the international community do not yet acknowledge this fact, despite the overwhelming evidence that supports it.” |
4 August 2012
Jerusalem Post
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