UN Security Council response to Syria's chemical weapons use in 2013

¶ … UN resolution Syria effective. Please fully supported argument address consequences position, provide a counter argument. Instruction: Please provide outline paper.

United Nations Security Council proposed Resolution on Syria

Current situation

Situation on the ground

Political views

Proposed course of action

Chapter 7 action

Proposed resolution

Supporters 3. Proposed resolution on Syria

Success

Reason

Reason

Reason

Failure

Reason

Current situation

Situation on the ground

The Syrian humanitarian crisis in particular has kept the headlines in the last years in terms of the massive casualties that the Syrian civilians have registered since 2011 since the civil war brought out in the country. Reports from international organizations and in particular the United Nations that has monitored the situation put the number of victims among children to 6,000 and a total of around 100,000 victims (Black, 2013). The civil war that has broken out in 2011, as part of the Arab Spring Movement, against president Bashar al Assad, however, has reached new heights after the alleged use of chemical weapons by the government forces on 21st August 2013 in Ghuta area of Damascus, the Syrian Capital. Currently, heated discussions are held regarding a retaliatory action against the Syrian government and possible foreign intervention to prevent the regime from using chemical weapons again.

Possible course of action

Following the chemical attacks on the population, there are two options for the UN to take and as suggested by its members. One would be the immediate action under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows deployment of forces. More precisely, art. 42, Chapter 7 states "Should the Security Council consider that measures provided for in Article 41 would be inadequate or have proved to be inadequate, it may take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security." (UN, 2013)

The second option is a resolution forcing the Syrian state to destroy its arsenal of chemical weapons under the strict supervision of the United Nations. Currently, on the table at the United Nations, a draft resolution that would force Syria to destroy its chemical arsenal is proposed; however, there are countries such as the United States or France that demand that Syrian compliance be monitored and in case of incompliance, Chapter 7 mission be established and deployed (Reuters, 2013). By contrast, Russia supports a resolution to destroy Syrian chemical arsenal, but not to be enforceable under Chapter 7 (Reuters, 2013).

Success of currently proposed resolution

There are several reasons for which the proposed resolution, with destruction of chemical weapons and threat of Chapter 7 action would be successful.

The first reason would be that this resolution although it may suffer modifications until its actual adoption, is supported by all members of the Security Council. This is to say that even if Russia is by no means supporting a possible military intervention, it does support the core nature of the resolution which aims to prevent the subsequent use od chemical weapons against civilians.

Secondly, this resolution is based on a humanitarian rational and can be validated thru the UN report that sated clearly the use of chemical weapons on civilians. After this consideration, the entire community is somewhat morally forced to take action.

Thirdly, it must be pointed out that this event did not take place in a peaceful country but rather one that is already of civil war for more than 2 years. Therefore, the actions that Assad has been taking against its population, from the massacres to the brutalities and the general state of chaos in the country, allow the international community to rally also against a humanitarian call.

At the same time though, the interests in the region are various and they are reflected in the voices of the permanent 5 members. Russia and China would not opt for jeopardizing their relationship with Syria, but at the same time cannot afford to have a non-compliant partner. Currently, the text of the resolution states "in the event of non-compliance, including unauthorized transfer, or any use of chemical weapons by anyone in Syria, the U.N. Security Council should impose measures under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter." (Reuters, 2013).

The outcome

The final outcome is rather hard to determine. The resolution if voted in its current state would allow greater control over the chemical weapons arsenal of the Syrian President. Given the fact that there are mixed feelings concerning the situation in which Syria would not comply, there are sufficient reasons to believe that the resolution will be effective for the simple reason that the alternative can become Iraq 2. Further, it is in the interest of all parties to ensure that such a resolution is effective because the national support in the United States for instance for a new crusade in the Middle East, although genuine for the people on the ground, will determine a shift in American approaches. Finally, there would be an interest to solve this matter peacefully especially for Russia and China.