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7 February 2012
Last Saturday, Russia and China vetoed the Arab-backed Security Council Resolution proposal condemning the violence in Syria and calling for President Bashar al-Assad to stand down. Representatives of other states have reacted strongly to the veto, stating to be ‘disappointed in’ or even ‘disgusted by’ particularly the stance of Russia. Russia made clear that it is opposed to the resolution’s implied call for regime change and is afraid the resolution would be the first step towards military intervention.
Source: Guardian | Russia and China veto UN resolution against Syrian regime
Source: BBC | Syria resolution: The diplomatic trainwreck
Source: New York Times | Russia and China Block U.N. Action on Crisis in Syria
7 February 2012
After that deliberations on a possible General Assembly resolution began in New York, the President of Palau, Johnson Toribiong, said that actions by individual States are not enough to ‘stem the rising tides or the flood of global emissions’ and that an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice is an appropriate recourse that ‘will give us the guidance we need on what all states must do.’ In the view of the Palauan President ‘the small island states are least responsible’. Palau also intends ‘to raise the consciousness of the world community to the issue of responsibility’ in the process.
Palau had announced plans in September to seek an Advisory Opinion on whether countries have a legal responsibility to ensure that any activities on their territory that emit greenhouse gases do not harm other states.
Source: UN multimedia | ICJ / Climate change
1 February 2012
A leaked classified document from NATO describes a close involvement of Pakistan with Taliban in Afghanistan. The document reportedly says that “ISI is thoroughly aware of Taliban activities and the whereabouts of all senior Taliban personnel. Senior Taliban leaders meet regularly with ISI personnel, who advise on strategy and relay any pertinent concerns of the Government of Pakistan.”
Source: BBC | Pakistan helping Afghan Taliban
Source: Telegraph | Pakistan security services 'intimately involved' with assisting Afghan Taliban
1 February 2012
Claims brought by relatives of French soldiers killed in an ambush in Afghanistan in 2008 alleging that military commanders failed to ensure safety of the troops were declared admissible by the Court of Appeal of Paris on 30 January 2012. The families of the victims alleges that soldiers lacked equipments and that the mission had not been properly organized. This possibility of legal action regarding military operations was not welcomed by army officials and the Ministry of Defense who fear that “judicialization” of military actions would lead to military inefficacy.
Source: France24 | French court approves probe into deadly Afghan ambush
Source: Le Monde | Ouverture d'une enquête sur l'embuscade d'Uzbin
1 February 2012
The Arab League has requested the United Nations Security Council’s support for a plan condemning the violence in Syria and calling for President Bashar al-Assad to stand down. Last Saturday, the League suspended the work of its monitoring mission in Syria after violence continued uninterruptedly. During the first day of debate on Tuesday, Russia, backed by China and India, stated that it will not support any resolution which would imply calling for a regime change. Also, the opponents fear that such a resolution would lead to a repetition of the sequence of events in Libya, including military intervention. The proposed resolution will likely be voted on on Friday.
Source: New York Times | At U.N., Pressure Is on Russia for Refusal to Condemn Syria
Source: BBC News | Impasse at UN Security Council debate on Syria violence