Updated Syria UN GA Resolution Emerges, With Observer Mission Dropped

By Matthew Russell Lee
February 13, 2012
Inner City Press 
http://www.innercitypress.com/las2syria021312.html
UNITED NATIONS, February 13 -- Aside the daylong http://www.innercitypress.com/ga5syria021312.html theater of Monday's General Assembly http://www.innercitypress.com/ga6syria021312.html session on Syria, a new draft GA resolution emerged. 

 On February 10, Inner City Press http://www.innercitypress.com/ga4syria021012.html obtained and published that day's draft. Now it publishes the version circulated after revisions based on the Arab League's February 12 meeting, with most changes in Paragraphs 6f, 7, 8 and 11, dropping references to the Observer Mission that has been canceled. The Operative Paragarphs:

The General Assembly...
Welcoming the engagement of the Secretary-General and all diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the crisis,
1. Reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria and stresses the need to resolve the current political crisis in Syria peacefully;
2. Strongly condemns the continued widespread and systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Syrian authorities, such as the use of force against civilians, arbitrary executions, killing and persecution of protestors, human rights defenders, and journalists, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, interference with access to medical treatment, torture, sexual violence, and ill-treatment, including against children;
3. Calls upon the Syrian government to immediately put an end to all human rights violations and attacks against civilians, protect its population, fully comply with its obligations under applicable international law and fully implement Human Rights Council resolutions S-16/1, S-17/1, S-18/1 and its resolution 66/176, including by cooperating fully with the independent international commission of inquiry;
4. Condemns all violence, irrespective of where it comes from, and calls upon all parties in Syria, including armed groups, to immediately stop all violence or reprisals in accordance with the League of Arab States’ initiative;
5. Stressing again the importance to ensure accountability and the need to end impunity and hold to account those responsible for human rights violations, including those that may amount to crimes against humanity,
6. Demands that the Syrian government, in accordance with the Plan of Action of the League of Arab States of 2 November 2011 and its decisions of 22 January and 12 February 2012, without delay:
(a) cease all violence and protect its population;
(b) release all persons detained arbitrarily due to the recent incidents;
(c) withdraw all Syrian military and armed forces from cities and towns, and return them to their original home barracks;
(d) guarantee the freedom of peaceful demonstrations;
(e) allow full and unhindered access and movement for all relevant League of Arab States’ institutions and Arab and international media in all parts of Syria to determine the truth about the situation on the ground and monitor the incidents taking place; and
7. Calls for an inclusive Syria-led political process conducted in an environment free from violence, fear, intimidation and extremism, and aimed at effectively addressing the legitimate aspirations and concerns of Syria's people, without prejudging the outcome;
8. Fully supports the League of Arab States’ 22 January 2012 decision to facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system, in which citizens are equal regardless of their affiliations or ethnicities or beliefs, including through commencing a serious political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition under the League of Arab States’ auspices, in accordance with the timetable set out by the League of Arab States;
9. Calls upon all Member States to provide support to the Arab League initiative, as requested;
10. Calls upon the Syrian authorities to allow safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance in order to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to persons in need of assistance;
11. Requests the Secretary-General and all relevant UN bodies to provide support to the efforts of the League of Arab States both through good offices aimed at promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis, including through the appointment of a Special Envoy, as well as through technical and material assistance, in consultation with the League of the Arab States;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of this resolution, in consultation with the League of Arab States, within 15 days of its adoption.
Compare this to the version Inner City Presshttp://www.innercitypress.com/ga4syria021012.html  published on Friday, especially paragraphs7, 8 and 11. The Qatari president of the General Assembly, as he gaveled closed Monday's Syria session, said he would be willing to convene another meeting upon request. Would that be to vote on this resolution? 

  Meanwhile, India's Deputy Permanent Representative had headed home, given that the PGA was scheduled to arrive on a trip to India. Timing is everything. Watch this site.