Kerry: UN Vote Proves Security Council Capable of 'Doing Big Things' - East Idaho News
World News

Kerry: UN Vote Proves Security Council Capable of ‘Doing Big Things’

  Published at

050613 SecyKerry?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1380334133715State Department photo/ Public Domain(WASHINGTON) — Secretary Kerry praised the United Nations Security Council for it’s unanimous vote approving a resolution that will require Syria to destroy it’s chemical weapons stockpile.

“Just two weeks ago this outcome would have been utterly unimaginable,” said Kerry.
“When we put aside politics for the common good we are still capable of doing big things.”

He thanked his Russian and European counterparts for their diplomacy over the last month to get this resolution passed.

“Tonight with a strong and forceable precedent setting resolution requiring Syria to give up it’s criminal weapons the UN Security Council has demonstrated that diplomacy can be so powerful it can peacefully diffuse the worst weapons of war,” said Kerry.

The measure holds Syria accountable for living up to it’s pledge to give up it’s chemical weapons with a legally binding resolution. Kerry inferred that the diplomacy happened because of President Obama’s threat of force but, the end result so far is a positive one.

“Our original objective was to degrade and deter syria’s chemical weapons capability. And the option of military force president obama has kept on the table could have achieved that,” said Kerry. “But tonight’s resolution in fact accomplishes even more. Through peaceful means it will for the first time seek to eliminate an entire nation’s chemical weapons capability and, in this case, specifically Syria’s.

Kerry laid out some specifics in the resolution, with which Syria will be required to comply.

On site inspections are to begin in November and the chemical weapons are to be destroyed by this time next year.

Syria cannot reject or select any inspectors and must give inspectors unfettered  access to all sites.
If Syria does not comply the council can impose measures under Chapter 7 of the UN charter, which could include authorizing the use of force.

UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon also praised the “historic” vote, saying that the international community has delivered on its responsibilities.

He announced that all parties, along with Syria special envoy Brahimi, have agreed to the next Geneva political conference with the Syrian government and opposition taking place in mid-november.

But for all the praise, ki-Moon reminded the Security Council that tens of thousands of Syrians have been killed, and continue to be killed by conventional weapons, a problem that the international community will need to address.

“As we mark this important step, we must never forget that the catalogue of horrors in Syria continues with bombs and tanks, grenades and guns,” said the Secretary General, adding that the resolution cannot be seen as a “license to kill” with conventional weapons.  

“A red light for one form of weapons does not mean a green light for others,” he said.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION