Clinton Calls for Unity on Syria at U.N.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid a visit to the United Nations Security Council on Monday to appeal once again to the international community about the crisis in Syria, making pointed remarks in the general direction of China and Russia as she urged all member nations to get with the regime change program, and soon. –KA
BBC:
Ms Clinton told the UN Security Council meeting in New York: “We believe that now is the time for all nations – even those who have previously blocked our efforts – to stand behind the humanitarian and political approach spelled out by the Arab League.”
In a clear reference to China and Russia, she appealed to the international community to “say with one voice – without hesitation or caveat – that the killing of innocent Syrians must stop and a political transition must begin”.
Her words echoed those of British Foreign Secretary William Hague, and of Mr Ban who said the Syrian government had “failed to fulfil its responsibility to protect its own people and instead has subjected its citizens in several cities to military assault and disproportionate use of force”.
He said the Council must “unite strongly” behind UN and Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan’s efforts “to help Syria pull back from the brink of a deeper catastrophe”.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the situation in Syria remained a “grave concern” but warned that change in the Arab world “must not be achieved by misleading the international community or manipulating the Security Council”.