A united resolution on Syrian chemical weapons
- By Sajjad Malik
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 30, 2013
Interestingly, it was not the first example of use of weapons of mass destruction in the bloody feud raging since 2011 and according to the UN, it has killed more than 100,000 people. The UN suspects the use of chemical weapons in three attacks before August 21 and three immediately after it. The strikes occurred in Aleppo and nearby areas. Assad has specially demanded that the use of chemical weapons in the last three attacks should be investigated.
The UN resolution is silent about who was responsible for these attacks and only condemned the use of chemical weapons. Independent observers believe that it will be highly difficult to prove the guilty party in a conflict which had become multi-dimensional due to the involvement of a myriad of international and regional actors. But Putin's insistence that Assad should not be singled out for the "crime" of use of chemical weapons had proved right.
The second important implication of the resolution is that international politics is becoming more predictable in the sense that U.S. may not be able to go roughshod and launch attacks under the pretext of regime change to introduce democracy or under the vague notion of right of pre-emptive strikes to neutralize future dangers. If Russia's insistence to go by the book to deal with Syrian crisis is a guide, let us hope that international relations are entering a new phase which would be termed as "Russian active re-involvement in the world politics" or the "re-emergence of a bipolar world."
The final resolution even deprived Washington of the opportunity to get a mandatory clause inserted for allowing the use of force if Syria faltered to fulfil its international commitments. A fresh resolution is needed for launching any military adventure against Assad, even if he fails to behave, where again Russian consent will be needed.
The good part of the development is that the OPCW will independently handle the elimination of weapons. Already, progress is being made and the work has started. The inspection of Syrian sites will start from October 1. Another positive outcome is that fresh effort will be made to resolve the Syrian imbroglio through peaceful means when the international community will meet in mid-November in Geneva to discuss the Syrian situation.
The writer is a senior Pakistani journalist and columnist.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn
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