UNITED NATIONS: Syria’s government warned the UN Security Council that delivering humanitarian aid across its borders into rebel-held areas without its consent would amount to an attack, suggesting it would have the right to retaliate against convoys.
As the veto-wielding members of the council — the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia — negotiate a draft resolution to boost aid access, Syria circulated to the 15-member council a letter from dozens of Arab and Syrian lawyers.
The June 18 letter, obtained by Reuters on Friday, argues against a bid by Western states for the resolution to be Chapter 7, which would make it legally binding and enforceable with military action or other coercive measures such as sanctions.
The humanitarian resolution text was drafted by Australia, Jordan and Luxembourg.
“The sole purpose of the initiative is to use United Nations auspices for the delivery of logistical backing to the terrorists,” the lawyers wrote in the letter that was sent to the United Nations by Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari.
“Importing aid in coordination with terrorist organisations and without consultation with the Syrian state would amount to an attack on the Syrian state and on its territorial integrity and political independence,” the lawyers argued.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday told the Security Council in a report, obtained by Reuters, that the United Nations was ready to put in place “speedy, pragmatic and practical arrangements at critical border crossings” to deliver more aid.
“Such arrangements would allow United Nations convoys to cross the border into Syria — in their own vehicles, without the need for specific permits or visas — to deliver urgently needed relief to people in need,” Ban wrote in the report.
Amid the resolution negotiations, Russia said on Tuesday it has gained Syrian approval to open four border crossings named in the draft text under a “far-reaching formula.” UN diplomats said this involved using monitors to inspect convoys.
But Australia’s UN Ambassador Gary Quinlan said on Thursday that the proposal “is not good enough” yet.
REUTERS
