|
US
Patronizes Syria, Saying It Needs To Behave “Diplomatically”
 |
|
Syria
replaces Singapore as the president of the Security Council on
Saturday |
WASHINGTON,
June 1 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The United States on Friday
reminded Syria of its obligations as a member of the U.N. Security
Council as Syria assumes the rotating presidency of the panel.
U.S.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States and
other countries expected the country holding the council's rotating
presidency to behave diplomatically and impartially as Syria prepares
to head the council for one month beginning Saturday.
"There
are certain practices and procedures that all the presidents of the
Security Council are expected to adhere to," Boucher told
reporters, noting that Syria was next in line for the post -- which
rotates in alphabetical order.
"There
are responsibilities that attend to that," he said. "We
would expect ... countries that are members of the Security Council to
act responsibly across the board.
"But
in the presidency one has to act impartially and there are certain
rules about how you do that that we would expect Syria, as (we would)
any president, to follow," Boucher said.
Syria
began a two-year term on the Security Council on January 1 amid
concerns in Washington that its antipathy toward Israel -- with which
Damascus is still technically at war -- would cause problems on the
panel.
The
country is also designated a "state sponsor of terrorism" by
the United States.
Since joining the panel, Syria has abstained on several votes having
to do with the Middle East and on March 30 was not even present when
the panel adopted one resolution.
In
addition, Syria has attempted to thwart proposals dealing with Iraq
but European diplomats at the United Nations say they believe
Damascus' behavior on the council has gradually improved.
Boucher
declined to comment on Syria's record as a member of the council.
Syria
replaces Singapore as the president of the panel on Saturday and will
be succeeded in the position by Britain on July 1.
Syria
is the only Arab member of the Council - it was elected to a two-year
term in January, with strong international backing - although an
Israeli spokesman denounced it as "a real bad joke",
reported BBC’s online news service.
The
Syrian Foreign Minister, Farouq al-Shara, is expected to lead some
Council sessions during June in line with tradition, but Damascus says
no special emphasis on the Middle East is planned, reported BBC. 
|
