Originally published on the CGS blog on September 19, 2011.
Citizens for Global Solutions CEO Don Kraus was quoted in an article by Thalif Deen of Inter Press Service on the lack of U.N. Security Council action on Syria.
Kraus was asked if the U.N. Security Council should move forward with a resolution on Syria, in light of veto threats from Russia and China. He said,
Don Kraus, chief executive officer of Citizens for Global Solutions, which has been closely monitoring the crisis in Syria, told IPS, “International cooperation is essential to resolve global challenges, building a safer, more secure world.”
He said U.S. and other Security Council members should push a resolution with tough sanctions on the Assad regime.
Even if Russia or China chooses to veto this motion, he said, a strong majority vote by other Security Council members will send a clear message to President Assad and his cronies that they will inevitably face consequences for their actions.
While there is room for the Security Council to evaluate lessons learned from how the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) implemented the Responsibility to Protect in Libya, punishing unarmed protestors and innocent civilians in Syria is not an appropriate way for member states to address concerns, said Kraus.
“A vetoed resolution will allow member states to shame Russia, China, or any other permanent Security Council member that uses its veto privilege to protect perpetrators of mass atrocities,” he said.
By doing so, he noted, they become just as guilty as those who pull the trigger.
Kraus also said that Security Council members have a choice. “Either they stop using the veto in situations dealing with mass atrocities, or they can maintain their status as controlling members of a body that will become increasingly irrelevant,” he declared.
To read the full article with additional quotes from Don, click here.
