“At some point, you have to say enough is enough,” US Ambassador Nikki Haley told reporters on her way into the council chamber, stating that three separate analyses have been done – by the US, UK, and France – and all confirm chemical weapons were used in Douma.
In the council, she clearly laid the blame on Russia: “If Russia had lived up to its commitments, there would be no chemical weapon use in Syria.”
A decision on military action has not been made as of yet, she said.
France’s UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said the chemical weapon use in Syria constitutes a threat to international peace and security.
The “genie of non-proliferation will emerge from its bottle,” if the situation in Syria continues, Delattre said, adding Douma to the list of chemical weapon attack from Ypres to Halabja to Khan Sheikhoun.
Damascus has “reached the point of no return,” he said, and France will shoulder its responsibility to end the threat to international peace and security.
Russia accused the US, UK, and France of adopting a “consumerist” approach to the Security Council, alleging that their true goal was not to combat chemical weapons but to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and deter Russia.
Syria was invited to attend the session and Ambassador Bashar Jaafari attacked Syria’s accusers, saying they are dragging the entire world “once again towards the abyss of war and aggression.”
He reiterated Damascus’ claim that the alleged Douma chemical weapon attack was fabricated by the White Helmets and said the group was “instructed by Western intelligence.”
If the US, UK, and France attack Syria’s sovereignty, Jaafari said his country would defend itself. “This is not a threat. This is a promise,” he warned.
Sweden and Bolivia were among the voices calling for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
The world has a rules-based order that prohibits unilateral action, said Bolivia’s Sacha Sergio Llorenty Soliz, warning that the UN Security Council must not be used for “propaganda of war.”
Sweden’s Ambassador Olof Skoog stressed that any response to chemical weapon use must comply with international law. He urged council members to consider Sweden’s draft resolution demanding a new impartial and independent investigatory mechanism and the dispatch of a disarmament team to Syria.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had opened the meeting with a plea for the Security Council to prevent further escalation of the situation, explaining that multiple divides are threatening multiple conflicts.
“The Cold War is back,” he said, also highlighting concern about intensified Israel-Palestine conflict and a growing Sunni-Shia divide. Factors like the role of the Muslim Brotherhood and the status of Kurds are among major issues facing the Middle East, he added.
