New York City
(AsiaNews ) - The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on the
elimination and handover of Syria's chemical arsenal. The
document, on which there was a prior agreement between Russia and the U.S., was
voted by all 15 members . It
is the first time in two and a half years that the Security Council has been
united in a decision regarding Syria. For
a long time the United States, Britain and France on the one hand, Russia and
China on the other have used their vetoes to block any resolution condemning
Assad or the armed opposition .
The
resolution calls for Syria deliver its chemical arsenal and allow inspectors
into the country, but does not contain - as required by Russia - an automatic
threat to use force in case of violations.
The
text does not charge the Syrian government or the rebels of using chemical
weapons in the attack on Ghouta of 21 August , which precipitated events that
led to the threat of a U.S. military attack , which would have resulted in an
escalation of the war at regional
level.
Many
- including the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry - applaud what appears to be
a victory for diplomacy over war and weapons .
The
Security Council has also approved a roadmap for political transition of the
Syrian situation , with a mid-November meeting for a peace conference .
The
UN secretary general Ban Ko -moon hailed the resolution as a
"historical" event and announcing the peace conference said that
"all violence must end. All weapons must be silent".
Among
the supporters of a peace conference, at which all regional and international stakeholders
involved in the Syrian conflict will meet, is the Holy See. On 6th September , Msgr. Dominique
Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States,
meeting with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See stated a
number of preconditions for peace: to ensure the unity of the country, respect
for minorities (including Christians ), full citizenship to all Syrians ,
whatever their religion,
guaranteed freedom of religion, the opposition's distancing itself from Islamic
extremism.