Syria Asks UN TO Help Rid Mideast of Mass Weapons

Reuters Newsdesk ^ | April 16, 2003 | Irwin Arieff

[Seti 1]

16 Apr 2003 17:55:52 GMT
Syria asks UN to help rid Mideast of mass weapons

By Irwin Arieff

UNITED NATIONS, April 16 (Reuters) - Syria, seeking to shift world attention from itself to Israel, asked the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to help transform the Middle East into a "zone free of weapons of mass destruction."

Accused by the United States of developing chemical weapons, Syria insists it is not doing so but charges that Washington is ignoring Israel, which is widely assumed to have nuclear weapons.

A draft resolution circulated by Syria in the 15-nation Security Council would welcome all initiatives aimed at the establishment of a "a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, in particular nuclear weapons" in the Middle East.

The draft calls on the council to take a central role in countering the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons in the region and calls on all Middle East governments to ratify a series of arms control treaties, including the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention.

Israel has signed the convention but never ratified it, while Syria has neither signed nor ratified.

Syria's U.N. ambassador, Mikhail Wehbe, set out the resolution during a closed-door session of the council after getting a green light the day before from representatives of the Arab group of countries at the United Nations, Arab diplomats said.

The Arab envoys gathered after top U.S. officials accused Syria of developing chemical weapons, giving sanctuary to fleeing Iraqi officials and assisting Saddam Hussein in his effort to defend Iraq against the U.S. invasion.

WHO'S NEXT AFTER IRAQ?

The Arab diplomats accused the United States of fronting for Israel in leveling the accusations against Syria and warned the charges could further jolt a region already shaken up by war in Iraq. The United States is Israel's closest ally.

"The only party in the region with weapons of mass destruction is Israel," Syrian envoy Fayssal Mekdad told reporters on Tuesday. "If Israel is the only country, then why are the accusations against Syria?"

U.S. officials have said they hoped the example of Iraq's defeat at the hands of the U.S. military would persuade others, notably Iran, Syria and North Korea, to give up their ambitions for weapons of mass destruction.

That has led to speculation -- denied by Washington -- that the United States, with hundreds of thousands of troops in neighboring Iraq, might invade Syria next.

Numerous governments have accused Washington of a double standard in trying to crack down on Syria, Iran and North Korea on the issue of weapons of mass destruction while ignoring Israel, which is believed to have some 200 nuclear warheads.

Israel declines to discuss its nuclear activities.

In Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher expressed support for Syria's proposal.

"Egypt supports this position because it matches its long-held stand and President Hosni Mubarak's initiative to make the region free of weapons of mass destruction," Maher told reporters.

[Ebenezer]

Oh, yeah. And O. J. Simpson is still looking for "the real killer".

[b4its2late]

Syria, seeking to shift world attention from itself to Israel, asked the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to help transform the Middle East into a "zone free of weapons of mass destruction."

They learned well from clinton.

[sarasota]

Oh brother. Casting about for a target to deflect attention away from themselves (Syria). At least we've got them on the run.

[anniegetyourgun]

Everyone knows Israel has advanced weapon systems. Everyone also knows they don't seek to use them on their neighbors, but for deterrence. Syria won't come clean with what they have, and everyone knows they support, harbor, fund, and train those who want to wipe Israel off the map. It's all about history, track record, and intent.

But I can see why terrorist nations want to claim moral equivalence between themselves and those who just want to be left alone.

[Cachelot]

"Egypt supports this position because it matches its long-held stand and President Hosni Mubarak's initiative to make the region free of weapons of mass destruction," Maher told reporters.

How strange, if Egypt has long held this stand, that they have been developing "mass weapons" in collaboration with Libya over a long period of time.

Stupid critters. A few dumb 1000-pounders should be enough to take down the Aswan, and teach Mubarak a thing or three about "mass weapons" :).

[VRWCmember]

Attention Syria: The UN is useless at finding or eliminating WMD; just look at Iraq for evidence of this. However, the US is demonstrating that it has the manpower for the 100,000+ member inspection team that is capable of ridding the area of WMD. After the task in Iraq is complete, we will be happy to inspect and destroy additional WMD in the area. In fact, to show you how much we appreciate your cooperation, we'll start with the WMD tha poses the greatest immediate threat in the area after Iraq -- namely Syria. We can do it the easy way or the hard way; which would you prefer?

[Born to Conserve]

The double standards applied around here are amazing.

[Mister Baredog]

Syria Asks UN TO Help Rid Mideast of Mass Weapons

CORRECTION:Syria Asks UN to Disarm Israel.

[gulfcoast6]

Getting a little nervous are they?

[Mister Baredog]

But I can see why terrorist nations want to claim moral equivalence between themselves and those who just want to be left alone.

Why not, with such willing allies in the mass media. Just think CNN.

[kevao]

OK, we'll send Ignorance is Blix to look for weapons in Israel, and 3rd and 4th ID to inspect Syria.

[jriemer]

Attention Syria: The UN is useless at finding or eliminating WMD; just look at Iraq for evidence of this. However, the US is demonstrating that it has the manpower for the 100,000+ member inspection team that is capable of ridding the area of WMD. After the task in Iraq is complete, we will be happy to inspect and destroy additional WMD in the area. In fact, to show you how much we appreciate your cooperation, we'll start with the WMD tha poses the greatest immediate threat in the area after Iraq -- namely Syria. We can do it the easy way or the hard way; which would you prefer?

Who better to call on to "find" WMD but the most incompetant inspectors around? Also, this is an attempt by Syria to "appear" powerful and redirect attention back to the UN Security Council where they are the only Arab nation with a seat. They too will fall into the dustbin of failed dictatorships.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

"...a zone free of weapons." They'd have to get rid of the Arabs.

[lilylangtree]

"transform the Middle East into a "zone free of weapons of mass destruction."

First, start with Syria! Yeah, right! I can just see Syria opening its doors for massive inspections. (sarc)

[gcruse]

Actually, Syria is as entitled to build WMDs as the next guy, aren't they? Do our gripes with Iraq really transfer automatically to anyone we suspect doesn't like us?

[mhking]

Syria, seeking to shift world attention from itself to Israel, asked the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to help transform the Middle East into a "zone free of weapons of mass destruction."

Don't be fooled - this is Syria's way of trying to get the UN to go after Israel's nuclear weapons.

[schaketo]

WHO'S NEXT AFTER IRAQ?

We should inform the United Nations we are changing the name of Iraq - to Gateway to Syria.