UN Divided Over Syrian Resolution

In response to the increasing bloodshed in Syria, European powers have re-entered discussions to draft a U.N. resolution that condemns the Government for its brutal crackdown on protesters. The Security Council, which first met on August 1, failed to reach an agreement after two days of talks.

After months of dispute and deadlock over Syria in the council, the intensification of military violence in the region seemed to radicalize many of the divided members, who felt that it may be time to resort to more direct engagement.

However, practical action from the council has remained paralyzed by disagreements, with the resolution coming to no conclusions after Russia and China, both allied with President Bashar Al-Assad, threatened to veto the bill.

After the Security Council discussions ended on Tuesday, Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, told journalists an agreement, so far, has not been possible: "The recent developments in Syria have been very grave, and we are concerned about the violence and the escalation of the conflict and we think that under these circumstances the Security Council could and should send a positive signal in favor of political accommodation and an end to the violence. We agreed to refer back to our capitals and then reconvene tomorrow in order to see whether a common position is possible between 15 members of the Security Council."

Churkin also added that any resolution on Syria must not lead to more violence: "Our view is shared by a number of members of the Security Council, that the required balanced has not been achieved in the course of those discussions and in the current shape and form of the text, it may not play a constructive and positive role which we would like to see the Security Council play in trying to prevent the further aggravation of the crisis in Syria."

Members who criticize the resolution fear that even a simple condemnation could be the first step toward Western military intervention in Syria, as happened in Libya in March.