http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-06/european-bid-to-censure-syria-faces-opposition-citing-libya.htmlBritish Foreign Secretary William Hague instructed his government’s UN mission this week to make another attempt at Security Council pressure on Syria’s government, and was backed today by France and Germany, France’s Ambassador Gerard Araud said. British Deputy Ambassador Philip Parham said no decision has been made on what specific action to seek.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin reiterated his government’s position that the situation in Syria isn’t a threat to international peace and security, which is the standard for UN Security Council intervention.
“Things are getting better there, anyway,” Churkin said.The U.S. and its European allies may have a better chance at derailing Syria’s bid for a seat on the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, according to Puri and other diplomats who said Syria won’t be able to win the 97-vote majority needed for election in the General Assembly on May 20.
Pressure on Syria to drop out increased when the Human Rights Council voted 26 to 9, with 7 abstentions, to adopt a U.S.-draft resolution censuring the Assad regime for its attacks on protesters. Egypt’s Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz said some Arab ambassadors are giving Ja’afari “friendly advice” to withdraw so that the Arabs, who lost one seat on the Human Rights Council when Libya was suspended in March, don’t lose another.