UNGA Passes Resolution against Damascus, Ban Urges End to “Proxy War” in Syria

The UN General Assembly passed on Friday a the resolution offered by some Arab states against Damascus, as it hit at the Security Council for “failing” to act against Syria.

The UN General Assembly passed on Friday a the resolution offered by some Arab states against Damascus, as it hit at the Security Council for “failing” to act against Syria. UNGA

The resolution, which condemned President Bashar al-Assad's use of "heavy weapons" in his battle against the armed groups, was passed by 133 votes with 12 countries against and 31 abstaining.
Russia and China were among high profile opponents of the resolution.

The resolution, which is not legally binding, deplored "the Security Council failure to act” against Syria.
It condemned "the Syrian authorities use of heavy weapons including indiscriminate shelling from tanks and helicopters" and demanded that the government “refrain” from using its chemical weapons.

Saudi Arabia drew up the resolution with Arab and western backing and its UN envoy described the vote as "painful victory" because of events in Syria.

“PROXY WAR”
The UN secretary general told the General Assembly the conflict has become a "proxy war" and that the international powers must overcome rivalries to end the violence. ban ki-moon

Ban said growing radicalization and extremism had been predicted at the start of the conflict in March 2011.
"The next step was also forewarned: a proxy war, with regional and international players arming one side or the other. All of these dire predictions have come to pass," Ban told the assembly.

Ban turned his fire on the Security Council saying it had become "paralyzed" by divisions over Syria despite calls for "consequences" to be imposed for not carrying out Annan's peace plan.
Now, with the situation having worsened, they must again find common ground. The immediate interests of the Syrian people must be paramount over any larger rivalries of influence."

Ban said the Syria conflict "is a test of everything this organization stands for.”

For its part, Syria strongly opposed the resolution and its UN envoy, Bashar Jafaari accused Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states of arming armed groups.
Jafaari said the resolution showed the "hypocrisy" of Saudi Arabia and that it had no impact whatsoever".