Ambassador Ala: Targeting countries with unilateral coercive measures undermines the principles of UN

Geneva, (ST) – Syria affirmed that targeting about 20% of the member states of the United Nations with unilateral coercive measures without the authorization of the Security Council contributes in undermining the principles on which the international multilateral system was built. 

Syria stressed that there is no moral or legal basis to justify any country’s resort to impose these measures and expand its legal jurisdiction over other countries.

Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Hossam El Din Ala indicated in a joint statement he made within the framework of the 51st session of the Human Rights Council currently being held in Geneva on behalf of 13 like-minded countries that unilateral coercive measures are inconsistent with international law and the Charter of the United Nations. He added that these coercive measures affect living conditions in the targeted countries and violated human rights systematically. “Therefore these measures should be lifted immediately and unconditionally”, Ala said.

Ambassador Ala stressed that the allegations made by Western countries about the existence of humanitarian exemptions from punitive measures have no aim other than to conceal the catastrophic effects of their immoral coercive measures that amount to a level crime against humanity.

Ambassador Ala indicated that preventing United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations from transferring funds to fund their activities in the countries subject to sanctions impedes the delivery of the most needed humanitarian aid, including life-saving medical equipment, to those countries. He pointed out that the so-called (humanitarian exemptions) do not actually exist on the ground.

Ala reiterated Syria’s call on all states to abide by their obligations under international law by urgently and unconditionally eliminating all forms of unilateral coercive measures. He also demanded the international community to develop appropriate methods of accountability to address the catastrophic effects of these measures and the procedures for their enforcement without further delay.

It is noteworthy that the like-minded group in whose name the statement was made includes: Syria, Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, DPRK, Belarus, Cuba, Bolivia, Cambodia, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Raghda Sawas