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Remarks by Ambassador Samantha Power at the Security Council Stakeout Following Consultations on Syria, September 26, 2013

UNITED NATIONS N.Y. (USUN.State.Gov) – This resolution will require the destruction of a category of weapons that the Syrian government has used ruthlessly and repeatedly against its own people. And this resolution will make clear that there are going to be consequences for noncompliance.

This is very significant. This is the first time since the Syria conflict began 2 ½ years ago that the Security Council has imposed binding obligations on Syria – binding obligations of any kind. The first time. The resolution also establishes what President Obama has been emphasizing for many months: that the use of chemical weapons anywhere constitutes a threat to international peace and security. By establishing this, the Security Council is establishing a new international norm.

As you know, we went into these negotiations with a fundamental red line, which is that we would get in this resolution a reference to Chapter VII in the event of non-compliance, that we would get the Council committing to impose measures under Chapter VII if the Syrians did not comply with their binding, legal obligations.

This resolution breaks new ground in another critical respect. For the first time, the Security Council is on the verge of coming together to endorse the Geneva Communiqué, calling for the establishment of a transitional governing body with full executive powers. If adopted, we will have achieved what we were unable to do before – unable to do for the last 2 ½ years – which is to fully endorse the Communiqué and call for the convening, as soon as possible, of an international conference on its implementation.

As Ambassador Churkin, with whom we’ve worked very productively, has just stated, we are hoping for a vote tomorrow in the OPCW Executive Council on the OPCW Executive Council decision. And then in the wake of that vote – and we hope in the immediate wake of that vote – we would have Security Council adoption of this text, which we are optimistic is going to be received very warmly. We’re optimistic for an overwhelming vote.

Washington: Russia holding Security Council ‘hostage’

UNITED NATIONS N.Y. (AP/Times of Israel) Sept. 6, 2013 — US Ambassador Samantha Power shrugged off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that Russia might support a UN resolution authorizing military force against Syria, saying Moscow has held the Security Council “hostage” on the Syria crisis and Washington does not expect that to change.

Power lashed into Russia in her most extensive comments yet on the Syria crisis since starting her job as ambassador to the United Nations last month. Her criticism came as US President Barack Obama was in Russia for an economic summit of the G-20 nations.

    “Russia continues to hold the Council hostage and shirks its international responsibilities.”

Power said Russia has consistently used its veto power to block Security Council action against Syria since the civil war broke out 2 ½ years ago, or blocked the council from issuing statements by consensus. She said she sees no reason to believe that pattern will change.

    “I have seen Putin’s comments, there is nothing in the pattern of our interactions with our colleagues in the Security Council, with our Russian colleagues, that would give us any reason to be optimistic.”

    “And indeed, we have seen nothing in President Putin’s comments that suggest that there is an available path forward at the Security Council,” Ms Power added.

Russia’s UN Mission declined to comment on Power’s remarks.

Ugly Propaganda by Samantha Power at UN