© Human Rights WatchUN General Assembly
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution establishing a mechanism to investigate war crimes in Syria is an attempt by Western countries to undermine the legitimacy of Damascus and to negate the success achieved by the country's army in fighting terrorism, Syria's Ambassador to China and former Ambassador to the United States Imad Moustapha told Sputnik. The Liechtenstein-proposed resolution
was adopted on Wednesday by 105 votes in favor, with 52 abstentions, while
15 countries including China, Russia and Syria voted against."It goes without saying that this resolution is merely a
continuation of the war against Syria in different means. The Western powers along with the oil rich Gulf states are rabidly looking for
every possible tactic and venue to intensify the
smearing and demonizing campaign [against the Syrian government],
divert the attention from the series of successes attained by the Syrian Arab Army and its allies, and, most important of all,
pump more blood and vigor into the veins of the armed terrorist groups," Moustapha said.
The resolution paves the way for the
establishment of an independent panel to assist in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for war crimes and human rights violations in Syria. In close cooperation with the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, the mechanism will
collect and analyze evidence of violations of the international humanitarian law in order to expedite criminal proceedings in national, regional or international courts.
Following the Wednesday vote, Syria's Ambassador to the UN Bashar Jaafari slammed the measure, saying it was contrary to the UN Charter and a
"flagrant interference in the internal affairs of a UN member state," as well as "a
direct threat to a solution" of the Syrian conflict. Imad Moustapha also said that the UN Board of Inquiry's investigation into the
September attack on the UN-Syrian Arab Red Crescent aid convoy in Aleppo failed to name the perpetrator after it
found no evidence proving Moscow or Damascus' responsibility, contrary to the version pushed forward by the West.
Comment: The influence of the United States elite is waning all over the world, including a decline within the US itself. Duterte certainly faces some real challenges ahead because many in the Philippines still do believe in the illusion that the United States does have honorable intentions towards their country. History demonstrates they do not. Despite the United States' wishful thinking, a Philippine alliance with real friends like China and Russia is Duterte's best bet moving forward.