International Cooperation Outside of the Security Council

International Cooperation Outside of the Security Council in 2013

United States views on international law [1] in relation to International Cooperation Outside of the Security Council: As Ambassador DiCarlo mentioned in her statement above, the initiative to advance a political solution to the Syria crisis under the framework agreed to in Geneva in June 2012 continued in 2013. On May 7, 2013, after meetings in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Secretary Kerry announced the shared intention of the governments of Russia and the United States to convene “Geneva II,” a follow-on conference to advance the goals of the 2012 Geneva communique.* Secretary Kerry's remarks are excerpted below and available in full at (Secretary of State website) state.gov/secretary/remarks/2013/05/209117.htm.

Some Aspects of International Cooperation Outside of the Security Council

We believe that the Geneva communique is the important track to end the bloodshed in Syria, and it should not be a piece of paper. It should not be a forgotten communique of diplomacy. It should be the roadmap, the implemented manner by which the people of Syria could find their way to the new Syria, and by which the bloodshed, the killing, the massacres can end. Encouraging the stated intentions of the Syrian Government and the opposition groups to find a political solution, both have said they want to, both are committed to it. And recently, the opposition came to Istanbul and signed a set of declarations regarding its embrace of the Geneva communique.

Developments

And so to that end, Foreign Minister Lavrov and I have agreed that as soon as is practical, possibly and hopefully by the end of this month, we will convene—seek to convene an international conference as a follow-on to last summer's Geneva conference. And the specific work of this next conference will be to bring representatives of the government and the opposition together to determine how we can fully implement the means of the communique, understanding that the communique's language specifically says that the Government of Syria and the opposition have to put together, by mutual consent, the parties that will then become the transitional government itself.

Details

Our two countries, the United States and Russia, reiterate our commitment to the sovereignty and the territorial unity of Syria, and to the full implementation of the Geneva communique, recognizing this requires the mutual consent of both parties. Therefore, we have agreed to use our good offices, both of us, to bring both sides to the table working with our other core coalition partners and other allies and interested parties to bring both sides to the table in partnership with the concerned foreign countries that are committed themselves to helping the Syrians to find a promising political solution within the Geneva framework.

More

We've also affirmed our commitment to a negotiated settlement as the essential means of ending the bloodshed, addressing humanitarian disaster in Syria, and addressing the problem of the security of chemical weapons and forestalling further regional instability. We believe that full implementation of the Geneva communique calls for a transition governing body as specifically set forth in the language of the communique, which is formed by mutual consent with the support of the international community and enjoying full executive authority—that means the full authority to run and manage the government, including the military and security services, and then doing so as soon as we can possibly implement it is the best way to resolve the crisis in Syria.

More

On May 22, 2013, several countries participating in a ministerial meeting in Amman, Jordan issued a joint statement on Syria, which appears below as part of a State Department media note, available at (Secretary of State website) state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/05/209820.htm.

International Cooperation Outside of the Security Council in 2013 (Continuation)

United States views on international law [1] in relation to International Cooperation Outside of the Security Council: The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar and the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, U.A.E., U.K., USA and Jordan came together in Amman on May 22nd 2013 to deliberate on the developments in Syria and to reemphasize their support to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria. The representatives from the leadership of the Syrian National Coalition of the Revolutionary and Opposition Forces also attended part of the meeting, and briefed the Ministers on the situation inside Syria.

More about International Cooperation Outside of the Security Council

The Ministers reviewed their discussions in the Rome meeting of February 28th 2013, and recalled the joint statement of Istanbul of April 20th 2013 that supports a political solution in Syria on the basis of the Geneva Communique of June 30th 2012.

Development

The Ministers supported the participation in the Geneva meeting for the purpose of the full implementation of the outcomes of the first Geneva meeting to end the bloodshed, fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, preserve the territorial integrity of the country, and strengthen the national unity amongst all components of the Syrian national fabric. The Ministers emphasized the central role of the United Nations Security Council in the realization of this effort.

Details

The Ministers condemned in the strongest terms the use of heavy weapons including ballistic missiles against the people, and deplored the ethnic cleansing that the regime is pursuing as seen recently in Banias, and declared that such crimes will not go unpunished.

More

The Ministers stressed that the political process to reflect positively and tangibly on the daily lives of the Syrian civilian population, including the release of prisoners, the delivery of humanitarian assistance and end the killing of civilians.

Resources

Notes

1. International Cooperation Outside of the Security Council in the Digest of United States Practice in International Law

Resources

Notes

1. International Cooperation Outside of the Security Council in the Digest of United States Practice in International Law