UN drops demand for Syria sanctions

[The Northerner]

UNITED NATIONS - The United States and its European and Arab partners have agreed to drop a demand to impose UN sanctions and a voluntary arms embargo on Syria, in exchange for a commitment from Russia to allow adoption of a UN Security Council resolution that paves the way for President Bashar Assad’s departure from power.

The latest offer, outlined in a new version of a draft resolution under negotiations in the 15-nation council, represents a retreat by the United States and its European and Arab allies, stripping away the most painful measures aimed at Syria and taking off the table the issue of its weapons purchases from Russia, Syria’s closest ally.

But the pact would for the first time place the Security Council, and possibly Russia, squarely behind an Arab League plan outlining a timetable for a transfer of power to a government of national unity, and ultimately for new parliamentary and presidential elections.

Security Council diplomats said they are confident that they have fashioned the broad parameters of a possible deal that would end months of inaction on Syria by the council. But they cautioned that Russia has yet to agree to support an unambiguous endorsement of the Arab League political plan, and that the entire proposal could unravel if it doesn’t.

Read more: http://bostonglobe.com/news/world/2012/02/03/allies-drop-syria-sanctions-demand-seek-deal-with-russia/G4EtnW2pPbolmhPayha1UK/story.html

[pampango]

1. No sanctions, no arms embargo (how would a 'voluntary' arms embargo even work?), certainly no

authorization for military intervention? Just backing for an Arab plan, a version of which worked quite well for Saleh in Yemen. He got to leave with tons of money and amnesty for his repression. It also involves Syrians forming a government of 'national unity"' leading to parliamentary and presidential elections.

Something tells me Russia can get behind this. But time will tell.

[leveymg]

2. The UN was never making that demand.

The United States and its European and Arab partners have agreed to drop a demand to impose UN sanctions and a voluntary arms embargo on Syria, in exchange for a commitment from Russia to allow adoption of a UN Security Council resolution that paves the way for President Bashar Assad’s departure from power.

We are not the world. "We" aren't even we.