UN Resolution Puts International Pressure on Syria

BY JASON LAURITZN

The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution demanding Syrian cooperation
with an assassination inquiry into former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Hariri was
killed Feb. 14 when explosives detonated as his motorcade drove through the Lebanese capital of
Beirut.

The U.N. resolution authorizes action against Syrian officials named in the inquiry. The suspects
will have their financial assets frozen and will be barred from international travel. Detlev
Mehlis, who lead the inquiry and wrote a report for the United Nations, said top Syrian officials
in Damascus are prime suspects.

Economic sanctions had been sought by the U.S., France and Great Britain, but were turned
down by Russia and China. The text of the U.N. resolution has been filed under Chapter 7 of the
U.N. Charter meaning if Syria fails to comply, the Security Council can authorize military force.

Dr. Paul Gates, assistant professor of communication at Appalachian State University, said he
was not surprised to see the U.S. push for direct action against Syria. “The U.S. has the invisible
hand behind this,” said Gates.

British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said the Hariri’s killing is similar to the “the medieval
practice of political assassination.” However, Syria’s Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, said the
United Nations had wrongly accused Syria of being involved in Hariri’s killing.

“The investigation of the crime also took place in near-medieval circumstances, where the
accused are presumed guilty without due process,” said al-Shara.

U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, also condemned Syria.

“With our decision today we show that Syria has isolated itself from the international community
through its false statements, its support for terrorism, its interference of its neighbors and its
destabilizing behavior in the Middle East,” said Rice.

In February, Scott McClellan, the White House spokesmen, said that Bush administration
officials had no concrete evidence implicating Syria in Hariri’s killing. A State Department
official echoed McClellan’s February comments. The official said there was no evidence to link
the killing to Syria, but said it would not stop the U.S. from turning up the heat on Syria,
according to the New York Times.

Hariri’s consultant Mustafa al-Naser told the Islamic Republic News Agency in February that the
Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was behind Hariri’s killing. Al-Naser said the goal of the
killing was to create political tension in Lebanon.
“Beyond doubt, the peace, stability and high level security prevailing in Lebanon in recent years,
in creation of which all Lebanese groups play a harmonious role, is in direct contrast with
Israel’s political intentions for the region,” said al-Naser.

Der Spiegel, a German political magazine, revealed that the central witness in the Mehlis report,
Zuheir al-Siddiq, had a criminal record as a convicted felon and swindler. Mehlis relied on
Siddiq for much of the U.N. investigation.

The U.N. was aware that al-Siddiq was not a credible witness. Al-Siddiq was paid for his
depositions, but Der Spiegel did not specify who paid al-Siddiq.

“Paying witnesses goes directly against their credibility,” said Gates.

The Syrian government sent documentation regarding the credibility of al-Siddiq to several
Western governments, according to Der Spiegel.

In the face of inconclusive evidence and international pressure, Syria has sought help from the
only Arab representative on the Security Council—Algeria. Algeria’s foreign minister,
Mohammed Bedjaoui, refused to back Syria and condemned Hariri’s killing.

Rachel Bronson, a Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign relations said the lack of
regional support has signaled a watershed moment for Syria. Syria is trying to rally support from
other Arab countries and has called an emergency meeting of the Arab league later this week.