Anti-government protests in Syria began in 2011 and continue to this day. Despite the ceasefire declared in April 2012, clashes between the authorities and the armed opposition continue, with the death toll already exceeding 12,000. This situation cannot but worry the United Nations and the European Union, which are preparing a new draft resolution on Syria.
Despite the announced ceasefire, which is being monitored by UN observers, both sides of the conflict constantly report new armed conflicts and casualties. The new draft resolution is designed to end the bloody civil war in Syria and find a peaceful solution to the problem.
The document was prepared by Great Britain, the United States, France and the Federal Republic of Germany, in case of non-compliance, it provides for the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition with certain sanctions. The new sanctions are to be approved by the foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries at a meeting in Brussels.
The sanctions provide for the expansion of the list of legal entities and individuals in Syria, whose assets in Europe are frozen, and entry into the countries of the European Union is prohibited. In the 16th sanctions package, approved on June 25, 2012, the list included 129 Syrian citizens and 49 Syrian companies.
Economic sanctions will also be tightened against Syria. In addition to the existing arms embargo, it is proposed to ban insurance of arms supplies to companies in the European Union.
Some controversy is caused by the proposal of Great Britain, France, Germany and the United States to use Article 7 of the UN Charter to ensure that Syria complies with all the points of the resolution. This article allows UN countries to conduct authorized military intervention in Syria. UK Representative Mark Grant and US Ambassador Susan Rice insist on the need for such pressure on the Syrian government to clearly indicate that all conditions must be met.
Russia and China oppose the appeal to Article 7 of the Charter, representatives of these countries immediately announced that they would block such a resolution. There was no official explanation for this decision.
Currently, the members of the UN Security Council are developing a plan to create an interim government in Syria, in the future, this plan should lead to a national dialogue, people's participation in reforms, fair and fair elections.
