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Nikki Haley Says U.S. May ‘Take Our Own Action’ on Syrian Chemical Attack Nikki Haley Says U.S. May ‘Take Our Own Action’ on Syrian Chemical Attack
(about 5 hours later)
UNITED NATIONS — Holding photographs of dead Syrian children after a suspected chemical bomb attack, the United States ambassador to the United Nations warned on Wednesday that her country might take unilateral action if the Security Council failed to respond to the latest atrocity in the Syria war. UNITED NATIONS — Holding photographs of dead Syrian children after a chemical bomb attack, the United States ambassador to the United Nations warned on Wednesday that her country might take unilateral action if the Security Council failed to respond to the latest atrocity in the Syria war.
Facing her first serious Syria showdown at the Security Council, the ambassador, Nikki R. Haley, also used her remarks at an emergency session to blame Russia for blocking a robust response to the attack on Tuesday on a northern Syrian town, which has incited widespread condemnation. The death toll was reported to exceed 100.Facing her first serious Syria showdown at the Security Council, the ambassador, Nikki R. Haley, also used her remarks at an emergency session to blame Russia for blocking a robust response to the attack on Tuesday on a northern Syrian town, which has incited widespread condemnation. The death toll was reported to exceed 100.
The United States, France and Britain have accused the Syrian government of responsibility and bitterly criticized Russia — Syria’s main ally in the six-year-old war — for objecting to a resolution they drafted condemning the attack.The United States, France and Britain have accused the Syrian government of responsibility and bitterly criticized Russia — Syria’s main ally in the six-year-old war — for objecting to a resolution they drafted condemning the attack.
Russia has said insurgents may have been responsible, or that the attack may have been fabricated to embarrass President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. Russia has said that insurgents may have been responsible, or that the attack may have been fabricated to embarrass President Bashar al-Assad of Syria.
“Time and time again Russia uses the same false narrative to deflect attention from their allies in Damascus,” Ms. Haley said. “How many more children have to die before Russia cares?” “Time and time again, Russia uses the same false narrative to deflect attention from their allies in Damascus,” Ms. Haley said. “How many more children have to die before Russia cares?”
She closed her remarks with an ominous warning. “When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action,” she said. “For the sake of the victims, I hope the rest of the council is finally willing to do the same.” She closed her remarks with an ominous warning. “When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action,” she said.
She did not provide further details. But Ms. Haley’s threat of unilateral action appeared to reflect the tough attitude adopted by President Trump and his aides toward the United Nations. She did not provide further details. But the hint of acting alone was striking, suggesting that she was willing to articulate a position even before her boss.
Ms. Haley’s criticism of Mr. Assad’s government also came as Mr. Trump adopted a tougher tone toward the Syrian leader. At a White House news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Trump said the attack on Tuesday “crossed a lot of lines for me” and that his attitude toward “Syria and Assad has changed very much.” Shortly after her remarks, President Trump expressed his own tougher tone toward Mr. Assad. At a White House news conference on Wednesday, Mr. Trump said that the attack had “crossed a lot of lines for me” and that his attitude toward “Syria and Assad has changed very much.”
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, asked about the attack before his meeting with the Singaporean defense minister in Washington, said: “It was a heinous act and will be treated as such.” The French ambassador to the United Nations, François Delattre, called on Russia to stand up to the use of chemical weapons and on the United States to show leadership on Syria. Asked about his American counterpart’s suggestion of unilateral action in the absence of a consensus, Mr. Delattre demurred. “Action by the Security Council would be by far the best option,” he said. “I’m concerned by inaction at this stage, the risk of inaction.”
The French ambassador to the United Nations, François Delattre, called on Russia to stand up to the use of chemical weapons and on the United States to show leadership on Syria. Mr. Delattre called the attack on Tuesday “a new act of barbarism.” The draft resolution “expresses its determination that those responsible must be held accountable” but provided no concrete measure to do so. It reminded the Syrian government that it was obliged to cooperate with international investigators looking into the use of chemical weapons, including by turning over all flight logs, flight plans and the names of commanders in charge of air operations on the day of the strike. It also asked the secretary general, António Guterres, to provide monthly reports on whether the Syrian government was cooperating.
The British envoy, Matthew Rycroft, pushed his fellow diplomats to act or lose all credibility in the eyes of the public. “They view us as a table of diplomats doing nothing, our hands tied behind our backs, beholden to Russian intransigence,” he said.The British envoy, Matthew Rycroft, pushed his fellow diplomats to act or lose all credibility in the eyes of the public. “They view us as a table of diplomats doing nothing, our hands tied behind our backs, beholden to Russian intransigence,” he said.
Russia dismissed the comments, saying, “At this stage, we don’t see a particular need.” Its deputy ambassador, Vladimir Safronkov, went on to scold its drafters for expressing “horror” at the attack. “Have you even checked what you wrote? This draft was prepared in a hasty way.” Russia dismissed the comments, saying, “At this stage, we don’t see a particular need.” Its deputy ambassador, Vladimir Safronkov, went on to scold its drafters for expressing “horror” at the attack: “Have you even checked what you wrote? This draft was prepared in a hasty way.”
The Security Council meeting was adjourned and ambassadors from the five permanent members negotiated privately to devise compromise language on a resolution. There was no word on when a vote might be held but diplomats said it was unlikely for Wednesday. After the Council meeting ended, diplomats said that they were continuing to negotiate and that no vote had been scheduled.
Diplomats were continuing to negotiate “in good spirit,” the French envoy, Mr. Delattre, said. Asked about his American counterpart’s suggestion of unilateral action in the absence of a consensus, Mr. Delattre demurred. “Action by the Security Council would be by far the best option,” he said. “I’m concerned by inaction at this stage, the risk of inaction.” In Brussels, at a meeting of donor countries for Syrian humanitarian relief convened by the European Union, Mr. Guterres declared that “war crimes are going on in Syria.”
In Brussels, at a meeting of donor countries for Syrian humanitarian relief convened by the European Union, António Guterres, the United Nations secretary general, declared that “war crimes are going on in Syria.”
Asked whether Mr. Assad’s government was responsible, Mr. Guterres called for “a very clear investigation to remove all doubts.”Asked whether Mr. Assad’s government was responsible, Mr. Guterres called for “a very clear investigation to remove all doubts.”
Condemnation also came from Pope Francis, who called the attack “an unacceptable massacre”; the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, who deplored “the use of these barbaric weapons”; and Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, who said that Syria’s government bore primary responsibility.Condemnation also came from Pope Francis, who called the attack “an unacceptable massacre”; the NATO secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, who deplored “the use of these barbaric weapons”; and Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, who said that Syria’s government bore primary responsibility.
The Brussels conference produced pledges of $6 billion for 2017, Christos Stylianides, the European commissioner for humanitarian aid, announced Wednesday evening when the meeting concluded. That was less than half of the amount pledged a year ago.The Brussels conference produced pledges of $6 billion for 2017, Christos Stylianides, the European commissioner for humanitarian aid, announced Wednesday evening when the meeting concluded. That was less than half of the amount pledged a year ago.
The war in Syria has taken nearly 400,000 lives, monitoring groups have said, and has displaced roughly half of all Syrians from their homes. The war in Syria has taken nearly 400,000 lives, monitoring groups have said, and it has displaced roughly half of all Syrians from their homes.
In the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib Province, where the attack took place, rescue workers continued to look for and help survivors, some hiding in shelters.
The World Health Organization reported that medical treatment facilities in the attacked region were overwhelmed; many stricken people had been sent across the border to Turkey, and that some had shown symptoms consistent with exposure to “a category of chemicals that includes nerve agents.”
The first known use of chemicals as weapons in Syria’s civil war came in 2012, and the attack on Tuesday was the most devastating since an August 2013 assault around the town of Ghouta that left hundreds dead and challenged President Barack Obama’s declaration that the use of chemical weapons would amount to a “red line.”
Mr. Obama considered a more direct American intervention in the conflict, but he ultimately decided against one.
The French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, who met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, on Tuesday to express condolences for the St. Petersburg subway bombing this week, used the occasion to condemn the attack in Syria.
“He noted that this barbaric act should not go unpunished and recalled that the international community as a whole should take responsibility and work to establish facts and responsibilities,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement, referring to Mr. Ayrault.
Arriving at the Brussels conference — co-sponsored by the United Nations, Britain, Germany, Kuwait, Norway and Qatar — Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, said it was impossible to imagine Mr. Assad’s “barbaric regime” continuing after the conflict ends.
Mr. Johnson also suggested that Mr. Assad and his government should be held accountable for war crimes, regardless of whether Russia was involved in the latest chemical attack.
Speaking at the same news conference at which Mr. Gabriel appeared, Mr. Johnson said that money should not be used in any way that could help the government in Damascus, but he acknowledged that needed to be balanced against humanitarian needs.
“There can be no budget, there can be no European checkbook, no financing of Syria without a transition away from the Assad regime,” Mr. Johnson said.