Arab League chief on Security Council deadlock on Syria
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Mr. Nabil Elaraby, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States
As the violence continues in Syria, UN Security Council resolutions on the issue remain "dead letter," Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby told the Council on Wednesday.
The Security Council has been deadlocked on the crisis with some of the five permanent member countries (P5) exercising their right to veto.
Elaraby said ending the bloodshed is the first step towards a transformation in Syria that would lead to a democratic regime that responds to the legitimate aspirations of the country's people.
"However, once again, frankly and most regrettably, the Security Council failed to achieve any of these objectives because of disagreement among the P5. And, I regret to say this: those resolutions have remained dead letter. They are not being implemented. The serial killing and bloodshed, destruction, continue unabated." (Duration: 33″)
Veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi was recently appointed the new joint UN-Arab League Special Representative on Syria following the resignation of Kofi Annan in August.
Elaraby said if the envoy is to succeed, he must have the Security Council's support in deed, not word.
