European Nations Submit Draft Resolution on Syria to UN

On Thursday,  Britain, France, Germany and Portugal submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, condemning “the systematic violation of human rights, including the killings, arbitrary detentions, disappearances, and torture of peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders and journalists by the Syrian authorities.”  The resolution calls for Damascus to comply with a UN Human Rights Council inquiry and to launch an independent and credible investigation into the violence.  Unlike the UN Resolution on Libya,   the draft does not call for UN sanctions or military intervention, but rather urges nations not to provide weapons to Syria.  Diplomats have raised concerns that the resolution may be vetoed and fear that it would send a dangerous signal to Syria.  Yet, if the council remains silent it will “embolden the Syrian leaders in the war they are waging on their own people”, said  Philippe Bolopion of Human Rights Watch.  Nearly 1100 people have been killed thus far, according to Syrian human rights groups since the crackdown began 2 months ago.