Date : 03/07/2013
UNITED NATIONS, July 3 (KUNA) -- A Senior UN diplomat on Wednesday said
there is a "possibility" that the Syrian opposition, when and if it takes a
decision on its leadership this week, to be invited to address the Security
Council privately.
"Depending on what happens with the opposition, there is the possibility
that the new opposition leadership will come to New York and we may set up a
(private) Council meeting this month. This is something we encourage and we
will be in touch with the opposition about," the diplomat told a limited
number of reporters including KUNA.
If it happens, that would be the first time that the opposition interacts
with Council members.
The diplomat defined that the decision the opposition will take later this
week in Istanbul, Turkey on its leadership is a "critical first step" in the
holding of Geneva II Conference.
The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces hold
their meeting on July 4th and 5th and will focus on naming a new president for
the Coalition to succeed Moaz Al-Khatib, and decisions regarding participating
in Geneva II Conference.
On this Conference, the diplomat said he does not expect it to be held
before the end of Ramadhan, and it is "more likely to be in September than
August," adding that it is "unlikely" that it takes place in New York in late
September when world leaders gather here for the General Assembly's 68th
session.
On the humanitarian situation in Syria, he said the High-Commissioner for
Human Rights Navi Pillay and UN Humanitarian Chief Valerie Amos will brief the
Council this month on the lack of access to the humanitarian workers to reach
the needy population in Homs and other areas in Syria.
On the situation in Homs, he said Australia and Luxembourg circulated a
press statement and it may be adopted later today if Russia does not block it.
According to the draft, Council members would express their "grave concern"
about the estimated 2,500 civilians trapped in Homs, as a result of the recent
heavy fighting.
It would call on the Syrian government to facilitate "immediate and safe"
access to humanitarian staff to reach the population in the besieged town,
particularly those in "urgent" need of medical assistance.
It would further call on "all parties" in Syria to protect civilians,
including allowing them to leave Homs and avoid casualties, recalling the
government's responsibility in this regard.
The diplomat noted that this move is separate from the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC)'s call on the Council last week to act on Homs, insisting that
the Council has not yet received any communication from the Group's Chairman,
Bahrain.
The value of this press statement, he noted, is "it shows that the Security
Council is concerned about the humanitarian situation and puts pressure on
Damascus to allow humanitarian workers to enter Homs, as was the case in
Al-Qusair last month when the Council issued a similar statement, with
Russia's approval.
In a related matter, and on the situation in Lebanon, the diplomat said the
Council is also working on a Presidential Statement to be issued on July 9th
following a Council private briefing by UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon
Derrick Plumbly.
That statement, he said, would focus on the "need for all factions to
respect the Lebanese dissociation policy, call for a new government, and
stress the need for additional international support on the humanitarian side.
(end)
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