The Security Council is expected to vote on a final version agreed upon in New York between the European group calling for tighter sanctions against Damascus and Moscow, regarding the deployment of 300 observers in Syria soon.
Diplomats in New York announced last night that the final version of the agreement had been sent to the concerned capitals for review before voting later, after the removal of two paragraphs at the request of Russia. However, sources spoke of concessions from both sides.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of Washington’s threat of sanctions under Chapter VII if Damascus does not adhere to the Annan initiative.
However, the former Syrian vice president and current opposition figure, Abdul-Halim Khaddam, ruled out the possibility of taking such a step in the Security Council, justifying his position by saying:
“We all know that sanctions under Chapter VII or otherwise cannot be imposed in the Security Council, considering that Russia and China will exercise their veto right. Therefore, is this a stage in preparing for another decisive stage? I hope that is not the case.”
Khaddam said that there are other solutions to the Syrian crisis, but they are outside the Security Council, explaining that “the responsibility now lies with the group of countries that undermined the legitimacy of the regime from the beginning and called for the departure of Bashar al-Assad and his regime, especially since what is happening in Syria reflects on the region and the interests of these countries.
He added, “Iran is the one leading the regime in Syria, and everyone knows its ambitions and its strategy aimed at controlling the region and its resources, thus putting the world in a state of spread. The international community has many options, including forming this international military coalition.”
