Current Affairs (September 23rd - 30th 2013)

International Affairs

• The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on 27th September, to require Syria to eliminate its arsenal of chemical weapons -- or face consequences."Today's resolution will ensure that the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons program happens as soon as possible and with the utmost transparency and accountability," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. The U.N. resolution was based on a deal struck this month between the United States and Russia that averted an American military strike over allegations the Syrian government used sarin nerve gas in an August 21 attack on a Damascus suburb that U.S. officials said left at least 1,400 people dead. The resolution did not authorize the automatic use of force if Syria is said to be in violation, as was previously sought by the United States. The 15-member Security Council met shortly after the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or OPCW, voted to fast-track Syria's addition to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans such weapons. For nearly two years, the U.N. Security Council had been unable to reach a consensus over what to do to bring about an end to Syria's civil war. Russia and China repeatedly vetoed resolutions dating back to October 2011 that condemned President Bashar al-Assad's government and called for him to step down. The turnaround came this month, when Russia called for Syria to divest itself of its chemical weapons arsenal after U.S. President Barack Obama accused Syria of crossing a "red line" with the use of nerve gas and threatened a strike. Syria announced this month that it was willing to join the agreement. Both the United States and Russia warned that if Syria failed to adhere to the terms of the U.N. resolution, it would face consequences. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the world community was imposing a binding obligation on the government of al-Assad to get rid of its stockpile.The United Nations estimates more than 100,000 people have died since March 2011 when a brutal government crackdown against protesters devolved into an all-out civil war.
  
• Ministers from 113 countries at U.N have signed a declaration pledging new action to end sexual violence in conflict. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said it prohibits amnesties for sexual violence in peace agreements. It also pledges to adopt a new International Protocol in 2014 to help ensure that evidence collected can stand up in court. Mr. Hague, who co-hosted on 25th September’s meeting on the sidelines of U.N General Assembly, said Britain will be encouraging the 80 U.N. member states that haven’t signed the declaration to do so. He also announced that Britain will host a conference next year on sexual violence in conflict. 
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Current Affairs (September 23rd - 30th 2013)