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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Security Council Statement on Syria

This is the UN Security Council statement on Syria proposed by France and co-drafted by the UK on Wednesday, adopted on Thursday March 1, 2012.

"The members of the Security Council express their deep disappointment that Ms. Valerie Amos, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, was not granted authorization to visit Syria bythe Syrian Government in a timely manner, despite repeated requests and intense diplomatic contacts aimed at securing Syrian approval.  The members of the Security Council call upon the Syrian authorities to grant the coordinator immediate and unhindered access.
The members of the Security Council deplore the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, in particular the growing number of affected civilians, the lack of safe access to adequate medical services, and food shortages, particularly in areas affected by fighting and violence such as Homs, Hama, Deraa, and Idlib.
The members of the Security Council call upon the Syrian authorities to allow immediate, full and unimpeded access of humanitarian personnel to all populations in need of assistance, in accordance with international law and guiding principles of humanitarian assistance. They call upon all parties in Syria, in particular the Syrian authorities, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and relevant humanitarian organizations to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance and allow evacuation of the wounded from affected areas."
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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Advanced Copy of UN Secretary General's Report on 1701

This is an advanced copy of the report of the UN Secretary-General on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.
Click here to get a copy.
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Human Rights Council resolution on Syria

This text was submitted on February 27, and adopted on Thursday March 1, 2012. 
The Russian Federation requested a vote. Resolution adopted by 37 yes, 3 no, 3 abstention, 4 absent (see scanned version of the result). Burkina Faso which appears among the absent came later to publicly and formally explain that should her delegation been in the room during the voting process, it would have voted in favour of the draft. 


Human Rights Council
Nineteenth session
Albania*, Andorra*, Australia*, Austria, Bahrain*, Botswana, Bulgaria*, Canada*, Côte d’Ivoire*, Croatia*, Cyprus*, Czech Republic, Denmark*, Djibouti, Egypt*, Estonia*, Finland*, France*, Germany*, Greece*, Hungary, Iceland*, Ireland*, Italy, Japan*, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia*, Libya, Lithuania*, Luxembourg*, Maldives, Malta*, Monaco*, Morocco*, Netherlands*, New Zealand*, Nigeria, Norway, Oman*, Poland, Portugal*, Qatar, Republic of Korea*, Republic of Moldova, Romania*, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia*, Slovenia*, Spain, Sweden*, Switzerland, Tunisia*, Turkey#, United Arab Emirates*, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland*, United States of America: draft resolution
19/…         The escalating grave human rights violations and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic
The Human Rights Council,
Having held an urgent debate to discuss the escalating grave human rights violations and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic,
Expressing grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, in particular the ongoing human rights violations and use of violence by the Syrian authorities against its population, resulting in a humanitarian crisis,
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Saturday, February 25, 2012

IAEA Report on Iran - Feb. 24, 2012

IAEA Board of Governors                   GOV/2012/9 -- Date: 24 February 2012
Restricted Distribution
For official use only
Implementation of the NPT Safeguards
Agreement and relevant provisions of
Security Council resolutions in the
Islamic Republic of Iran
Report by the Director General
A. Introduction
1. This report of the Director General to the Board of Governors and, in parallel, to the Security Council, is on the implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement1 and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran).
2. The Security Council has affirmed that the steps required by the Board of Governors in its resolutions (2) are binding on Iran. (3) The relevant provisions of the aforementioned Security Council resolutions were adopted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, and are mandatory, in accordance with the terms
of those resolutions. (4)
3. By virtue of its Relationship Agreement with the United Nations,5 the Agency is required to cooperate with the Security Council in the exercise of the Council’s responsibility for the maintenance or restoration of international peace and security. All Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council,6 and in this respect, to take actions which are consistent with their obligations under the United Nations Charter.
4. This report addresses developments since the last report (GOV/2011/65, 8 November 2011), as well as issues of longer standing. It focuses on those areas where Iran has not fully implemented its binding obligations, as the full implementation of these obligations is needed to establish international confidence inthe exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.

B. Clarification of Unresolved Issues
5. On 18 November 2011, the Board of Governors adopted resolution GOV/2011/69 in which, inter alia, it stressed that it was essential for Iran and the Agency to intensify their dialogue aimed at the urgent resolution of all outstanding substantive issues for the purpose of providing clarifications regarding those issues, including access to all relevant information, documentation, sites, material, and personnel in Iran. The Board also called on Iran to engage seriously and without preconditions in talks aimed at restoring international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. In light of this, and following an exchange of letters between the Agency and Iran, it was agreed that an Agency team would visit Iran for talks.
6. From 29 to 31 January 2012, an Agency team held a first round of talks in Tehran with Iranian officials aimed at resolving all outstanding issues. During the talks:

Thursday, February 23, 2012

"Friends Of Syria" - Draft Statement

Proposed Draft Chairman’s Conclusions to issue after Friends of Syria meeting, 24 February - Tunisia

1. The first meeting of the Group of Friends of Syria (“the Group”), was held in Tunis on 24 February 2012, and was co-chaired by Qatar and Tunisia, with the participation of [60] countries and representatives from the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States to discuss the worsening situation in Syria.
2. The Friends’ Group reaffirmed its firm commitment to the sovereignty, independence, national unity and territorial integrity of Syria. It expressed strong condemnation of the Syrian regime’s ongoing, widespread, and systematic human rights violations, including: the indiscriminate use of force against civilians; the killing and persecution of peaceful protestors and journalists; and sexual violence and ill-treatment of thousands of detainees, including children. The Syrian authorities’ brutal actions over the past eleven months have led to the death of thousands of innocent civilians, caused widespread destruction, forced tens of thousands of Syrians to flee their homes, and created widespread suffering among the Syrian people. Its use of heavy artillery and tanks to attack residential areas of cities and towns is particularly reprehensible. This violence, as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said, may amount to crimes against humanity.
3. The Friends’ Group affirmed its goal of a peaceful non-military solution to this crisis that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people for dignity, freedom, peace, reform, democracy, prosperity and stability. The Friends’ Group recognized the genuine concerns of religious and ethnic minorities (Alawi, Christian, Druze, Kurdish, Turkmen, and others) in Syria.

Support for the League of Arab States
4. The Friends’ Group commended the League of Arab States for their leadership on this issue and welcomed the League’s actions and proposals to achieve a peaceful resolution of

Independent International Commission of Inquiry Report on Syria

This is the report that will be discussed on March 12 in The Human Rights Council in Geneva. The report was published in The New York Times on Feb. 23, 2012.
Click here to get a copy.


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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Security Council calls on Yemenis to continue transition

The following Security Council press statement was issued on Feb. 22 by Council President Kodjo Menan (Togo) on Yemen:


The members of the Security Council welcomed the holding of the Presidential election on 21 February. They congratulated the people of Yemen for the overall peaceful manner in which the elections were held and the encouraging levels of participation.
The members of the Security Council underlined that this election is a significant step in the implementation of the political transition plan agreed to by Yemen’s major political parties, based on the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative. They reaffirmed their strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen.
The members of the Security Council encouraged all stakeholders in Yemen to work together, with strong international support, to continue with the next stage of transition as set out in the implementation mechanism in order to achieve unity and security in Yemen. This includes the fully inclusive National Dialogue, the constitutional review and the programme of reforms to tackle the profound security, humanitarian and economic challenges that Yemen faces.

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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Security Council resolution on strengthening AMISOM - Feb. 21, 2012

This resolution was adopted on Wednesday Feb. 22. 
    "The Security Council,
    PP1      Recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Somalia, in particular resolution 2010 (2011), as well as other relevant Presidential Statements and resolutions on protection of civilians in armed conflict, women and peace and security, and children and armed conflict,
    PP2      Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia, and reiterating its commitment to a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the situation in Somalia,
    PP3      Reiterating its full support for the Djibouti Peace Process and the Transitional Federal Charter which provide the framework for reaching a lasting political solution in Somalia, reiterating its support for the Kampala Accord and the Roadmap to End the Transition (the “Roadmap”), and stressing the need for reconciliation, dialogue and broad-based, inclusive and representative Somali institutions,

Friday, February 17, 2012

UNGA resolution on financing UNISFA - Feb. 9, 2012.

This is the UNGA resolution on financing UN Interim Sicurity Force for Abyei, UNISFA - Feb. 9, 2012. 
Click here to get a copy. 

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قرار الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة بتمويل القوة الأمنية في أبيي - 9 فبراير 2012

 أقرت الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة تمويل قوة الأمم المتحدة الأمنية الموقتة في أبيي في قرار هذا نصه الكامل عبر الرابط التالي

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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Voting Record in the General Assembly on Syria

Here is the official voting record in the General Assembly on Syria - Feb. 16, 2012
Click here to get the list.
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قرار الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة -- سوريا



قرار الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة حول سوريا - صدر في 16 شباط فبراير 2012
النص الكامل عبر الرابط التالي: أنقر هنا


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UN General Assembly resolution on Syria

The UN General Assembly resolution on Syria. It was drafted by the Arab League and adopted on Thursday Feb. 16, 2012

  
 The General Assembly

Recalling its resolution 66/176 of 19 December 2011, as well as Human Rights Council resolutions S/16-1, S/17-1 and S/18-1, 
Expressing grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in Syria, in particular the ongoing human rights violations and use of violence by the Syrian authorities against its population, 
Reaffirming the role of regional and sub regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security as set out in Chapter VIII of the Charter, 
Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and to the principles of the Charter,
Reaffirming that all Member states of the United Nations should refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State or act in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations,

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

The Russian amendments - UNGA draft resolution on Syria. Feb 15, 2012

Russia proposed to add (or drop) these highlighted paragraphs to the text:

 "The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 66/176 of 19 December 2011, as well as Human Rights Council resolutions S/16-1, S/17-1 and S/18-1,

Expressing grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in Syria, in particular the ongoing human rights violations and use of violence by the Syrian authorities against its population,

Reaffirming the role of regional and subregional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security as set out in Chapter VIII of the Charter,

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and to the principles of the Charter,

Reaffirming that all Member states of the United Nations should refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, interference in internal affairs of independent states or actin any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations,

Welcoming the engagement of the Secretary-General and all diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the crisis,

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Al-Dabi's Report on the Arab League Observer Mission To Syria


The full text of the report as submitted to the Arab League secretary general Nabil Al-Arabi on January 22, 2012

League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria
Report of the Head of the League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria for the period from 24 December 2011 to 18 January 2012

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
“We offered the trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to carry it, and were afraid of it; and man carried it. Surely he is sinful, very foolish” [Qur’an 33:72]

I . Legal bases
1. By resolution 7436 of 2 November 2011, the Council of the League of Arab States adopted the Arab plan of action annexed thereto, welcomed the Syrian Government’s agreement to the plan, and emphasized the need for the Syrian Government to commit to the full and immediate implementation of its provisions.
2. On 16 November 2011, the Council of the League of Arab States adopted resolution 7439 approving the draft protocol of the Legal Centre and the mandate of the League of Arab States Observer Mission to Syria, namely to verify implementation of the provisions of the Arab plan of action to resolve the Syrian crisis and protect Syrian civilians. The resolution requested the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States to take such steps as he deemed appropriate to appoint the Head of the League of Arab States Observer Mission and to make contact with the Syrian Government with a view to signing the protocol.
3. By resolution 7441 of 24 November 2011, the Council of the League of Arab States requested the Secretary-General of the League to deploy the Observer Mission to the Syrian Arab Republic in order to fulfil its mandate under the protocol immediately on its signature. 

النص الكامل لتقرير بعثة المراقبين العربية في سوريا

هنا وثيقة النص الكامل لتقرير بعثة المراقبين العربية (ابتداءاً من صفحة 12) الذي رفعه رئيس اللجنة الفريق محمد الدابي الى الأمين الأمين العام لجامعة الدول العربية نبيل العربي قي 22 كانون الثاني يناير 2012. 
وأصبح التقرير وثيقة من وثائق الأمم المتحدة بعدما قدم العربي نسخة منه الى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة بان كي مون في رسالة رسمية.

الوثيقة في الرابط التالي:

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The UN General Assembly draft resolution on Syria -- Feb. 13

The UN General Assembly draft resolution on Syria. It was drafted by the Arab League and Circulated on Feb. 15, 2012 

  
 The General Assembly,


Recalling its resolution 66/176 of 19 December 2011, as well as Human Rights Council resolutions S/16-1, S/17-1 and S/18-1,

Expressing grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in Syria, in particular the ongoing human rights violations and use of violence by the Syrian authorities against its population,

Reaffirming the role of regional and sub regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security as set out in Chapter VIII of the Charter,

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and to the principles of the Charter,

Monday, February 6, 2012

Blue draft resolution on Syria vetoed by Russia and China (2nd Veto)

List of Co-Sponsors: Morocco, France, United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Portugal Colombia, Togo, Libya, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey.




The Security Council,
pp1 Recalling its presidential statement of 3 August 2011,
pp2 Recalling General Assembly resolution A/RES/66/176 of 19 December 2011, as well as Human Rights Council resolutions S/16-1, S/17-1 and S/18-1,
pp3 Noting the League of Arab States’ request in its decision of 22 January 2012,
pp4 Expressing grave concern at the deterioration of the situation in Syria, and profound concern at the death of thousands of people and calling for an immediate end to all violence,