By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, November 28 -- After the Russian embassy in Damascus was shelled on Thursday, killing one and injuring nine, after a time the US State Department issued a condemnation. Inner City Press noted it and asked, how fast would the UN Security Council issue its press statement? Another asked, what about France?
After 5 pm on the US Thanksgiving holiday in New York, the Security Council issued a statement condoling for the victims and citing the law of protection of diplomatic premises. One wondered, would Jarba's Syrian Coalition issue a statement? It did on the twin bombings of Iran's embassy in Beirut, but used the statement to urge Iran to support supporting Assad.
Earlier today Inner City Press wrote about Jarba following on Twitter the UK's William Hague and the US' John Kerry as well as US, Gulf and UK media, but not Laurent Fabius of France. Hours later, his account unfollowed the media, and added Fabius. Is it time for at least a tweeted statement from President Jarba?
Here is the UNSC's statement:
Security Council Press Statement on Shelling against the Russian Embassy in Damascus
The members of the Security Council are outraged and strongly condemned the mortar shelling on 28 November against the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Damascus, Syria, which killed one and wounded 9 people including among the Embassy security personnel.
The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the family of the victim and expressed their sympathy to all those injured in this heinous terrorist act.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its 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 motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The members of the Security Council recalled the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, and the obligations on host Governments, including under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises against any intrusion or damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of these missions or impairment of their dignity, and to prevent any attack on diplomatic premises, agents and consular officers.
New York, 28 November 2013
The members of the Security Council are outraged and strongly condemned the mortar shelling on 28 November against the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Damascus, Syria, which killed one and wounded 9 people including among the Embassy security personnel.
The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the family of the victim and expressed their sympathy to all those injured in this heinous terrorist act.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its 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 motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The members of the Security Council recalled the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, and the obligations on host Governments, including under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises against any intrusion or damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of these missions or impairment of their dignity, and to prevent any attack on diplomatic premises, agents and consular officers.
New York, 28 November 2013
