WhatsappToday the Syrian regime has begun its four-week Presidency of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament. Many are calling this the darkest day of the history of this UN panel.
After countless allegations of Syria’s use of chemical weapons against Syrian citizens, this appointment is a travesty.
The Official Explanation
The official explanation from the United Nations Conference on Disarmament is that the appointment goes according to alphabetical order and Syria was next in line.
Regardless of the technicality, this is an additional hit to the integrity of this organization. While true atrocities take place around the world, from the outside it looks quite clear that the United Nations is run by dictators and murderous regimes, while ignoring their atrocities, and instead focusing on demonizing good countries like Israel.
One would think justice is more important than technicalities at a global organization of justice. Yet, we are all wrong.
I’m @UN in New York now to fight Syria’s presidency on Monday of the UN Conference on Disarmament. I told the press: “Having the regime of Bashar al-Assad preside over global chemical & nuclear weapons disarmament is like putting a serial rapist in charge of a women’s shelter.” pic.twitter.com/rw1istnxpl
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) May 25, 2018
United States Reaction
The United States Ambassador Robert Wood took the lead in denouncing this technical appointment. “The Damascus regime has neither the credibility nor moral authority to preside over the CD. The international community must not be silent” said Wood.
The United States will stage a walkout in protest at Syria’s presidency of the Conference on Disarmament at the United Nations in Geneva, U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood told reporters on Tuesday.
Just prior to the commencement of today’s CD plenary, I walked out in protest of Syria’s assumption of the CD presidency. I did return later, however, to harshly condemn the regime in Damascus for its repeated use of chemical weapons against its own people. pic.twitter.com/kv2e2qXT0s
— Robert Wood (@USAmbCD) May 29, 2018
The representative of the Syrian regime called on the US and others not to “poison the atmosphere” of the CD with condemnations of Damascus. I told CD members I’m more concerned about Syria having “poisoned” its own people with chemical weapons. pic.twitter.com/RgasSMcvhP
— Robert Wood (@USAmbCD) May 29, 2018
Washington did not plan a boycott of the four-week presidency. But they wanted to hold Syria to account for its use of chemical weapons, he said.
United Kingdom Reaction
“The UK deplores the fact that Syria will assume the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament. Given the regime’s consistent and flagrant disregard of international non-proliferation and disarmament norms and agreements,” said a statement by British diplomats.
The United Nation’s Reaction
Un Watch is the organization that exposed this issue to the public. The UN Watch twitter account was ensuring that everyone knew about this travesty.
The United Nations did not like all the bad press this horrific appointment was generating for them, thanks to UN Watch. So they decided to do something about it. They changed the name of the conference’s Twitter handle so that the United Nations would no longer be officially associated with it. What an absolute disgrace of a world body!
Moments ago, the @UN office that staffs the #Syria-chaired Conference on #Disarmament changed its twitter handle to remove the words “UN.” But their profile pic—for now—still incorporates the #UN logo. Thread: https://t.co/1FO8qTHnd4 pic.twitter.com/jNNKczt7tT
— UN Watch (@UNWatch) May 30, 2018
But wait. Their behavior got even worse!
For fun, start typing @UNODAGENEVA…and it takes you to what is now “@CDSecretariat.” But see just yesterday how the European Union tagged “@UNODAGENEVA.” Whatever the handle, this #Syria-chaired body is still funded by the @UN, hosted @UN, has @UN chief’s rep as its Sec-Gen… pic.twitter.com/gOr3xMqmkP
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) May 30, 2018
Thank You UN Watch
One would expect the world body of “justice” to do everything in its power to remove a member state that kills its citizens with chemical weapons from a disarmament committee. Let alone stop it from being appointed President, just because of an alphabetic system!
Thankfully we have UN Watch on guard. Without them, this horrendous behavior of the United Nations would have never made any news. It would have gone over silently. Humanity owes a debt of gratitude to UN Watch.
