U.S. and France Add Diplomatic Pressure to Syria

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

UNITED NATIONS – Hoping to add to the diplomatic pressure on Syria to abandon its occupation of Lebanon, America and France yesterday circulated to Security Council members a proposed resolution that would establish a permanent mechanism to monitor the implementation of its demand for all nations to stop interfering in Lebanese affairs.


While the proposed draft does not mention Syria by name, it “notes with concern” a recent report by Secretary-General Annan, which determined that Syria is the only foreign force left in Lebanon, in violation of the council’s September 2 resolution that called on all foreign troops to withdraw from the country.


Most importantly, the new proposal requested Mr. Annan to continue to monitor the resolution’s implementation and “report to the council on a quarterly basis.”


The idea of creating a permanent monitoring mechanism, which invites a continued pressure on Syria, has been the most contentious in negotiations last week attempting to unite the council behind an agreed statement endorsing Mr. Annan’s report.


“There is still the problem of the reporting mechanism, which has to be fixed,” the Algerian ambassador, Abdallah Baali, told The New York Sun when asked about the new French-American proposal. “We need to have a fair approach to all problems. We should not be selective – be very pressing on one set of countries and flexible and nice with other countries.”


He was referring to a complaint often heard in the Arab world of a double standard that favors Israel at the Security Council and puts pressure on Arab states.


Syria and Lebanon sent Mr. Annan almost identical letters last week, in which they argue with his finding about the Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs. Both letters blamed Israel instead. The Syrian letter also accused the council itself of being “a tool of illegal interference in the internal affairs of independent states.”


American and French diplomats said yesterday that they intended to push for a vote on their proposed resolution by as early as Monday.


One French diplomat who asked not to be identified noted that the direct reference to Syria was dropped in the proposal in order to guarantee that the monitoring mechanism would be established. He said that Paris might be willing to consider a longer reporting period than every three months, but that the principle has to be maintained.


Paris proposed the resolution, along with Washington, because unlike what is known at the council as a “presidential statement,” which needs the assent of all 15 council members, a resolution needs only nine supporters and no veto from any of the five permanent members.


The Russian and Chinese ambassadors, who are opposed to increasing the pressure on Syria, said that the council should get back to its attempt to reach a consensus statement, according to diplomats present in yesterday’s closed-door meeting.


But the French ambassador, Jean Marc de la Sabliere, said that since last week’s consultations on such a statement failed, all members should now show what their bottom-line demands are.


The New York Sun

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