UN Security Council action on Syria exposes its failings

By Mustafa Caglayan

NEW YORK

As the Syrian civil war entering its fifth year this month, the international community's lack of reaction has become almost commonplace.

The longer the fighting drags on, the more complex the conflict becomes, but the world's response continues to fall short.

The conflict, which started in March 2011 when the regime responded to anti-government protests with a violent crackdown, has left more than 200,000 people dead and nearly half of the country's population displaced.

It has also metastasized into an inextricable quagmire, with extremist movements such as Daesh exploiting a power vacuum and gaining foothold in the region.

Most emblematic of the international community's inability to act is the UN Security Council, where national interest so regularly trumps action in humanitarian crises. The Syrıan conflict is the latest, if perhaps not the most telling, proof of gridlock at the head of the UN. 

The following is a chronological list of previously vetoed and adopted Security Council resolutions on Syria:

Vetoed: Oct. 4, 2011

Russia and China vetoed a European-backed resolution threatening sanctions against Syrian officials if they did not halt military crackdown on protesters. It would have condemned "grave and systematic human rights violations" in Syria.

The resolution was defeated although its wording had been heavily watered down in order to avert the veto. Non-permanent members Brazil, India, Lebanon and South Africa abstained from the vote.

Vetoed: Feb. 4, 2012

Russia and China blocked a Western- and Arab-drafted resolution, which backed an Arab League plan for President Bashar al-Assad to cede power to his vice president in order to make way for a unity government to lead Syria to democratic elections.

The veto came on the heels of a government attack on the city of Homs in what was described at the time as the deadliest assault in the conflict to date.

Adopted: Apr. 14, 2012

The council unanimously authorized that a team of up to 30 unarmed observers monitor a shaky truce. This was the first time since the onset of the civil war that the 15-member body put its weight behind a resolution.

However, the draft text had been heavily watered-down over Russia's demand that the Assad regime not be obliged to comply with the resolution.

As a result, the final resolution merely "called upon" the regime to take its forces off the streets and initiate dialogue with the opposition. 

The cease-fire was over by June that year.

Adopted: Apr. 21, 2012

The Security Council unanimously adopted a Russian-European drafted resolution clearing way to send 300 observers to Syria for three months.

The resolution gave UN chief Ban Ki-moon the power to decide when to deploy the monitors based on his assessment of relevant developments on the ground.

It also called on the government to halt all violence and to honor a previous commitment to the council to withdraw heavy weapons.

Vetoed: July 19, 2012

Russia and China vetoed another resolution threatening the Syrian regime with sanctions should it not cease resorting to violence.

The blocking of the British-sponsored resolution was considered as a potentially fatal blow to diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the conflict.

The resolution would have allowed economic sanctions to be imposed on the Syrian government under chapter 7 of the UN Charter for failing to execute a peace plan.

Adopted: July 20, 2012

The Council unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the monitoring mission in Syria for a final 30 days.

Adopted: Sept. 28, 2013

The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution demanding that the Syrian regime dismantle its chemical weapons arsenal, without threatening further action if it did not comply.

The resolution, which Ban Ki-moon described as "historic" and "the first hopeful news on Syria in a long time," came in response to an Aug. 21, 2013, poison gas attack near Damascus that killed more than 1,400 people.

Although the resolution was binding and referred to chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows use of military force, it made clear a second resolution would be needed to such a move.

Russia, however, had already declared it would not green-light the use of military force against Assad.

Adopted: Feb. 22, 2014

The Council unanimously adopted a resolution to increase humanitarian aid access in Syria, calling on the Syrian government to allow aid agencies to enter the country.

Although it was legally binding, the resolution did not the present an immediate threat of punishment.

The resolution denounced the barrel bomb attacks by government aircrafts and sharply condemned terror attacks.

Vetoed: May 22, 2014

Russia and China vetoed a resolution that would have referred the Syrian conflict to the International Criminal Court.

The French-drafted resolution would have called for an independent inquiry into alleged war crimes committed in the country.

France's permanent UN representative said the veto "would cover all crimes," while Russia called the attempt a "publicity stunt."

It was the fourth time Russia and China blocked Western-backed resolutions on the situation in Syria.

Adopted: July 14, 2014

The Security Council voted 15 to 0 to authorize cross-border and cross-line access for the UN and its partners to deliver humanitarian aid in Syria without the government's consent.

The measure strengthened the provisions of the last adopted resolution and established a monitoring mechanism for 180 days.

Adopted: Aug. 15, 2014

The resolution condemned the recruitment by Daesh and other groups of foreign fighters and listed six individuals affiliated with those groups under the 1267/1989 Al-Qaida sanctions regime.

Adopted: Sept. 24, 2014

The Security Council unanimously approved a resolution addressing the "growing threat" posed by foreign terrorist fighters.

It expanded the counter-terrorism framework by imposing obligations on member states to respond to this threat.

Adopted: Dec. 17, 2014

The resolution renewed a previous authorization for cross-border humanitarian access until Jan. 10, 2016.

Adopted: Feb. 12, 2015

The council unanimously adopted a resolution aiming to block Daesh's illicit funding via oil exports, traffic of cultural heritage, ransom payments and external donations.

Adopted: Mar. 6, 2015

The Security Council adopted a resolution strongly condemning the use of any toxic chemical, such as chlorine, as a weapon in Syria and calling for those who use such weapons to be held accountable.

The resolution was approved by all members except non-permanent member Venezuela.

The resolution threatened further action under chapter 7 of the UN Charter should chemical weapons, including chlorine, be used again.