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Draft resolution on sanctions against Damascus presented at UN GA

The draft resolution in many ways repeats the wording of another document, put on July 19 to the vote in the UN Security Council by Great Britain

UNITED NATIONS, August 1 (Itar-Tass) — Saudi Arabia in coordination with a number of Western countries on Tuesday at an informal meeting of the UN General Assembly presented a draft resolution on the settlement of the Syrian conflict, calling on the international community to follow the example of the League of Arab States (LAS) and impose sanctions on Damascus.

The UN General Assembly “urges UN member states, if they have not already done so, to impose sanctions, similar to those that were introduced by the League of Arab States on November 27, 2011,” it is stressed in the draft resolution text, received by Itar-Tass. The LAS sanctions envisage freezing of assets of the Syrian ruling elite in Arab banks, minimising commercial ties with Damascus and with the country’s banks, as well as termination of joint projects and air service.

The text of the document presented on Tuesday also contains the demand to the Syrian authorities to “immediately end all human rights violations and attacks on civilians” and to stop using heavy weaponry. The draft resolution calls on all parties to the conflict to stop violence and to “create conditions for a transition process led by Syrians that corresponds to the aspirations of the people.”

The document welcomes the results of the Syrian opposition conference held in Cairo on July 3 under the auspices of the Arab League, as well as expresses “deep concern over the Syrian government’s threats to use chemical or biological weapons.”

Thus, the draft resolution in many ways repeats the wording of another document, put on July 19 to the vote in the UN Security Council by Great Britain and blocked by the Russian and Chinese delegations. Unlike the UN Security Council resolutions, the General Assembly resolutions are adopted by a simple majority of votes, but they do not provide for sanctions or the use of military force, being confined only to appeals and recommendations.

An informed UN source told Itar-Tass that the draft resolution will be put to the vote at the UN General Assembly on August 2.