Rice says 'isolated' Syria put on notice
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/2005103...JWsOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
Mon Oct 31,12:36 PM ET
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice painted Syria as a global pariah that faced a "strategic decision" to return to the international fold or face serious consequences.
Rice's remarks followed the unanimous adoption of a UN Security Council resolution aimed at pressuring Syria into cooperating with a UN probe into the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri.
"With our decision today, we show that Syria has isolated itself from the international community through its false statements, its support for terrorism, its interference in the affairs of its neighbours and its destabilising behaviour in the Middle East," Rice said.
"Now the Syrian government needs to make a strategic decision to fundamentally change its behaviour," she told Security Council members.
The resolution, sponsored by Britain, France and the United States, demanded that Damascus cooperate fully with the commission investigating Hariri's murder or face unspecified "further action."
An initial report by the commission implicated senior Syrian security officials in the planning of the February assassination, accused Damascus of failing to cooperate in the investigation and, in some cases, even trying to mislead the commission.
Rice said Monday's resolution made it clear that continued failure to cooperate would "lead to serious consequences."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/2005103...JWsOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
Mon Oct 31,12:36 PM ET
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice painted Syria as a global pariah that faced a "strategic decision" to return to the international fold or face serious consequences.
Rice's remarks followed the unanimous adoption of a UN Security Council resolution aimed at pressuring Syria into cooperating with a UN probe into the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri.
"With our decision today, we show that Syria has isolated itself from the international community through its false statements, its support for terrorism, its interference in the affairs of its neighbours and its destabilising behaviour in the Middle East," Rice said.
"Now the Syrian government needs to make a strategic decision to fundamentally change its behaviour," she told Security Council members.
The resolution, sponsored by Britain, France and the United States, demanded that Damascus cooperate fully with the commission investigating Hariri's murder or face unspecified "further action."
An initial report by the commission implicated senior Syrian security officials in the planning of the February assassination, accused Damascus of failing to cooperate in the investigation and, in some cases, even trying to mislead the commission.
Rice said Monday's resolution made it clear that continued failure to cooperate would "lead to serious consequences."