Unanimously, the 15 members passed the resolution on Friday
New York: In a session of the United Nations Security Council on Friday, the 15 members of the prestigious council came, unusually, to an agreement about the course of action to be taken to halt the Syrian conflict. Its most crucial feature is its backing for a dialogue between the Syrian government and its Opposition in early January, amidst a ceasefire that shall be put into place. However, some Head of States are still skeptical about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s future as a political leader in the future, transformed Syria. While Russia and China threw their weight behind the Syrian premier’s abilities, while the USA, the UK and France opposed his return.
Although the ceasefire has been primitive to the talks in January, the member countries are also at a discord about which section of the armed forces will it be applicable on. A discussion that has been met with several roadblocks that culminated in the result on Friday, had for long been irresolvable. While Russia was in support of Bashar al-Assad, focusing its efforts on wiping out Syrian rebels, the USA and its allies were in the opposition. in a war that has entered its fifth year, killing half a million people along its way and misplacing millions of others, is finally expected to find a solution in the hands of the UN Security Council, which, in the past, has been criticized for its lack of effort. Past Envoys have tried and given up and the present Envoy of the UN Security Council, Staffan de Mistura, is responsible for the progress in the talks. Yet, he has also cautioned that achieving “credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance” within half a year is rather ambitious.
Meanwhile, surprised by the fact that all 15 members have somehow arrived at the same page, the world community is largely supportive of the plan. Said US Secretary of State and Chairperson of the dialogue, John Kerry, “This resolution sends a clear message to all concerned that the time is now to stop the killing in Syria. The resolution we just reached is a milestone, because it sets specific goals and specific timeframes.” In any case, the role of Syrian rebels remains unclear because the nature of their activities do not have a definition—members are unsure whether to call them terrorist outfits. On the other hand, groups like the Islamic State and the al-Nusra Front have already been declared as terrorist groups and countries like Russia, USA, UK, France and other allies can continue air-strikes against them.
At the same time, members have realized that it will be difficult to control the ceasefire and they have been asked to deliberate on the same.
Mr. Ban Ki-moon has assured ‘free and fair’ elections within 18 months of the efforts, which have to be initiated by Syrian authorities.
Taking all of these considerations into account, the member countries have unitedly decided that all parties must cease attacks against innocent civilians. The efficiency of implementation of the resolution remains to be seen, but much of the world community has reacted pleasantly to the UN Security Council’s action at long last. It could mark the first step on the way to stopping a war, which is largely being labelled a ‘war against humanity’.
Source: BBC
