In a recent un-moderated caucus, two resolutions were created and submitted to the executive board for discussion. The resolutions are given below.
Resolution 1
Sponsors – FRANCE, USA, UK
Signatories – Italy, Kuwait, Israel, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Germany, Lebanon, Egypt
Recalling its resolutions 2042 (2012), 2043 (2012), especially 2118 (2013), 2139 (2014), and its presidential statement of 2 October 2013,
Taking into consideration the unanimous support for Resolution 2139 (2014), but regretting the inability of the parties involved to comply with the demands of resolution 2139 (2014), as described in the Secretary-General's report S/2014/208 (2014),
Realizing the need to specify a timeline for the implementation of effective steps, in case of non-compliance with resolution 2139 (2014),
1. Calls for a Geneva III Conference that is an inclusive negotiation process between the Syrian government and Syrian opposition groups, such as the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, to restore diplomatic dialogue between the parties, to be held from 1 November until 15 November 2015, consisting of two phases:
a. Phase I, where the parties present will focus only on the implementation of Resolution 2139 (2014) and ensuring the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, with emphasis on the following issues:
i. Increased frequency and duration of humanitarian pauses in order to provide relief for the Syrian civilian population,
ii. Further reducing bureaucratic impediments to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, such as the issuing of the required visa for aid workers,
iii. Increasing the number of entry points around the Syrian border,
iv. Allowing additional United Nations staff and other international observers into the Syrian territory,
b. Phase II, focused on a political solution to this conflict, based on an update of the 2012 Geneva Communiqué, and which will be applied only when all parties to the conflict reach a written agreement on the first phase;
2. Authorizes US and France led coalition to stay inside Syria if the Geneva III conference fails;
3. Urges all parties to the Syrian conflict to contribute to creating an environment conducive to productive negotiations to facilitate the Geneva III Peace Talks;
4. Calls upon the international community to facilitate the implementation of all aspects of resolution 2139 (2014), in particular paragraphs 2 through 12, within 90 days from the adoption of this resolution;
5. Expressing its commitment to take effective steps in the case of non-compliance with the aforementioned implementation of resolution 2139 (2014);
6. Invites the Syrian government and opposition groups to:
a. Provide increased access for aid agencies under the aegis of the United Nations Office of the Coordination of Human Affairs (UNOCHA), to provide assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and civilians trapped in combat zones who are denied access to water, food, non-food items and medicine,
b. Work with the United Nations and all relief agencies in possible future multilateral talks between the Syrian government, opposition groups and the international community, to ensure that aid workers are given the visa and travel requirements necessary for them to continue their work in the region,
c. Coordinate with UNOCHA to provide security to aid workers working in conflict zones and IDP camps in Syria as well as their movement within country,
d. Open more border crossing points and decrease the number of internal checkpoints that aid personnel are required to pass through, to ensure unhindered access to aforementioned zones in a timely manner;
7. Approves the reestablishment of the Informal Working Group on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (Working Group) to be assembled on the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons affected by the Syrian Conflict;
8. Designates that the Working Group will:
a. Be comprised of, but not be limited to, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the permanent members of the Security Council,
b. Collaborate with existing regional partners to provide best practices to IDP camps in Syria, focusing on the communication between camps and partners, and ensuring the safety of IDP camps during the conflict,
c. Strive to meet the funding goals of the UNHCR as set by the Syrian Humanitarian Relief Program, Syrian Government Response Plan and the Syrian Regional Response Plan,
d. Meet on a monthly basis to carry out the mandate of this committee from November 2015 until November 2017,
e. Submit a quarterly report to the Secretary General and the United Nations Security Council on the recommendations made and reports published by the Working Group;
9. Further recommends that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) work alongside the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Department of Field Support on implementing a joint capacity-building program resembling the Framework for the Ten-Year Capacity Building Program between the United Nations and Syria to address the following issues:
a. Providing operational support to all field support missions by increasing transparency and efficiency regarding the distribution of humanitarian aid resources in the region and strengthen the building of internal civilian capacities,
b. Supports further training of aid workers and NGOs, via the United Nations Institute on Training and Research (UNITAR) on conflict scenarios and advise on protocols regarding working under dangerous conditions with respect to the United Nations Logistical Base and the Support Base which will provide consistent, quality and timely support for persons involved,
c. Accelerate the pace of information-sharing related to internally displaced persons by working in conjunction with regional bodies and the Syrian government;
10. Welcomes member states and appropriate NGOs, to adhere to international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law;
11. Encourages member states to take all steps necessary to alleviate human suffering;
12. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
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Resolution 2
Resolution: UNSC/2015/2.0
Security Council of the United Nations
Sponsors: Russia, China, Czech Republic
Signatories: Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Italy, Germany
Reaffirming its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,
Reaffirming that terrorism in all forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever committed,
Reaffirming the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including applicable international human rights, refugee, and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, stressing in this regard the important role the United Nations plays in leading and coordinating this effort,
Emphasizing that sanctions are an important tool under the Charter of the United Nations in the maintenance and restoration of international peace and security including countering terrorism, and underlining the importance of prompt and effective implementation of relevant resolutions, in particular Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) as key instruments in the fight against terrorism,
Recalling its Resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011), 2161 (2014), 2170 (2014), and 2178 (2014) and its Presidential Statements of 28 July 2014 and 19 November 2014, including its stated intention to consider additional measures to disrupt oil trade by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Daesh), Al-Nusrah Front (ANF) and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida, as a source of terrorism financing,
Reaffirming also that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, or civilization,
Stressing that terrorism can only be defeated by a sustained and comprehensive approach involving the active participation and collaboration of all States, and international and regional organizations to impede, impair, isolate and incapacitate the terrorist threat,
Reaffirming article 25 of the UN charter, under whose mandate member nations are bound to follow council decisions.
- Approves the setting up of a cease-fire agreement brokered between the Syrian government and the various military groups stationed at Syrian Soil;
- Have Resolved the setting up of UN body to conduct elections in the Syrian regime.
- Emphasises the apeal for full allowance of UN peacekeeping forces and peace building commission after cessation of armed conflict for maintaining peace and security in the country;
- Expresses its appreciation to the announcement of Syria being open for election under the able guidance of the UN body specially formulated for conducting the elections in Syria;
- Urges the international community to join hands against the extremist organizations such as ISIL, Jabhat Al-Nusra so as to protect the interests of the Middle Eastern nations with respect to territorial violations;
- Demanding strongly the creation of a transitional government that can carry out the governance of the state of Syria under United Nations;
- Urges removal of all sanctions against Syria after the elections are conducted in the Syrian regime;
- Demands preserving Syrian state institutions including the army and the civil service, so that the elections can be conducted fairly and without any external interference;
- Demands strongly the expansion of humanitarian aid to the IDP’s and the refugees to support the pressure on the machinery of neighbouring Middle Eastern countries;
- Requesting the Syrian refugees to take part in the voting process, withholding their discretion to return.