Group items tagged

The UN is pushing for sanctions to put pressure on Libyan factions and militias to take part in political negotiations. These sanctions would target individual groups rather than the foreign backers involved in the proxy war and would freeze their assets and impose travel bans. US officials have introduced the possibility of using their own sanctions separate from the UN for a few reasons: UN sanctions move slowly if not at all, Washington could impose them whenever they wish. The US places more emphasis on the importance on external actors in the conflict than domestic groups, explaining that these countries are actually intensifying the conflict. 

After Western powers suspected that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against the Syrian people, tensions grew against them and Russia, China, and Syria. The Eastern Powers believe that Western powers are overstepping their bounds for their need of power but the Western powers think that they need to interfere to help the people. 

This article details were certain countries, that are most affected by the Syrian conflict, stand within the conflict and how they would like to solve the issue. 

according to the UN, 96 percent of Syria's chemical weapons have been destroyed and the preparation for destruction of the 12 remaining facilities is underway. The UN hopes that peace and political process will be Syria's main priority soon.

In a new report from the UN, it is revealed that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were maintaining regular contact with members of the so-called Islamic State since May of 2013. - See more at: http://yournewswire.com/un-proven-ties-between-isis-and-israel/#sthash.DF57aXWd.dpuf

"The chief of Libya's new UN-backed government has reached Tripoli, defying threats from city militias, to proclaim a new order for the conflict-ravaged country in a move that could eventually pave the way for international forces to provide troops and air support."

In Feb. the United Nations demanded Turkey to open its borders to thousands of Syrian refugees. Erdogan responded "are you mocking us?" and accused the UN for overstepping its powers and to basically back off from the Syrian conflict.

The fighting in Syria and Iraq has expanded and gained more foreign fighters from many more countries around the world. 

(Sorry, this one is in French.) Colombian man masquerades as Lebanese diplomat and succeeds at it.

Russia and China once again veto a resolution that would have lead  to an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of Syrian governments possible violation of human rights, and international humanitarian law. This is the fourth time both countries have vetoed resolutions relating to the situation in Syria.

Syria has disclosed four chemical weapon facilities including, three for research and development and one for production. There are concerns that Syria continues to hide information regarding the existence of more chemical weaponry facilities. The UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have a joint mission to eliminate the chemical weaponry in Syria.

The UN is concerned by the presence of ISIS in Afghanistan but says the militant group's power to "unite insurgents is more significant than its capabilities in the war-torn country."

Egypt received 300 recommendation to review their human rights. The list also stated they wanted to tackle corruption, human trafficking, and human rights. Egypt has until March 2015 to respond. 

Russia will hand to the UN evidence implicating Syrian rebels in the chemical attack that occurred on August 21 in Damascus. The report blames the rebels although the US has believed it to be the regime who used the chemical weapons. Russia is one of Syria's most important international ally.

Netanyahu isn't happy with UN Chief Ban Ki-moon. At the UN Security Council, Mr. Ban condemned recent stabbings of Israelis by Palestinians.

The main opposition group in Syria, the HNC, recently held what  they view as positive talks with the UN. It was in regards to humanitarian issues in Syria, and the group now awaits the Syrian government's response. 

This is a log of the events leading up to the Syrian peace talks. The most recent event was a UN airdrop with aid.

The first aid convoys have reached the besieged city of Muadhamiya. The convoys will hopefully defuse the hostility and resume the peace talks.

Cities in Syria that have been taken over by rebels are in desperate need of resources. This article explains and details what is being brought in.

Aid trucks have arrived in beseiged towns throughout Syria, in a hope by the world powers and the UN that will lead to a "cessation of hostilities". Almost 500,000 people live in beseiged areas, according to the UN.

This article is particularly relevant to our discussion in class on Tuesday. A UN plea for aid funding has largely gone unanswered, with only 2 donors giving approximately 1% of what was asked for. The UN representative questioned why no one would give by saying "the U.N. cannot "explain or justify why the international community hesitates to provide humanitarian funding." Perhaps because it's unstable? Perhaps because the world is trying to avoid another corrupt leader such as Gaddafi?