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01/12/201702:49PM

WarandPeace

DisunityandImpotenceattheUnitedNaons
ThemandateoftheUnitedNaonsistopreservepeaceintheworld,butwhenitcomesto
theSyriancrisis,theglobalbodyhasfailedbadly.WilltheUN'snewsecretarygeneralbeable
tonallyintroducenecessaryreforms?BySPIEGELSta

TheUNwasnotcreatedtotakemankindtoheaven,buttosavehumanityfromhell.Dag
Hammarskjld,UNsecretarygeneral,duringaMay1954speech.

Themanwho,bysimplyraisinghishand,preventedalleortstoendthewarinSyriaissing
inabunkerlikeroomon67thStreetinManhaan.Chandeliersarehangingabovehishead,a
pendulumclockiskeepingthemebehindhimandthefurniturerecallsSovieteralmography.
"WehavehadthisproblemwithSyria,ofcourse,and...I(have)thoughtalotaboutit,"says
VitalyIvanovichChurkin,Russia'sambassadortotheUnitedNaons.Anironicexpressionon
hisface,thewhitehaireddiplomatleansbackinhisleatherchair.

Churkinisoneofthemenchargedwithsavingtheworld.Asabsurdasitmightsound,thatis
hisjob.The15membersoftheUNSecurityCouncil,inparcularthevepermanentmembers
China,France,GreatBritain,RussiaandtheUnitedStatesbear"primaryresponsibilityfor
themaintenanceofinternaonalpeaceandsecurity,"accordingtoArcle24oftheCharterof
theUnitedNaons.

Itisaheroictask,anidealiscnoonthatwasbornoutoftheruinsofWorldWarII:The
peoplesoftheEarthjoiningtogethertoprotecttheonlyplanetwehave.Uningtheirstrength,
theworld'scountrieshopedtocreateabeerworld,aplacewhereallpeoplecanlivein
dignity.Andtheprerequisitefordoingsoispeace.

In2001,theUnitedNaonsanditsthensecretarygeneral,KoAnnan,receivedtheNobel
PeacePrize"fortheirworkforabeerorganizedandmorepeacefulworld."Itisalsothanksto
theUNthatnuclearwarhasthusfarbeenprevented,thatwarcriminalsfromformer
YugoslaviawereforcedtostandtrialandthatwenowhaveaParisClimateAgreement,whichis
aimedatprevenngthedestruconoftheworld.

ButwhathasbeenhappeninginSyriaforthelastveyearsistheoppositeofpeace:aproxy
worldwarbeingfoughtonSyrianterritory.Ithascalledeverythingintoquesonforwhichthe
UNstands.Theimagesandthecallsforhelpthatinnocentmen,womenandchildrenhave
beensendingouttotheworldviaFacebookandTwierareunbearable.Andyettheworld
standsby,watchingasthoughitwereallmerelypartofaparcularlylonghorrormovie.

ThevepermanentmembersoftheSecurityCouncilcarryasignicantdegreeofthe
responsibilityforwhatishappeninginSyriabecausetheyareable,withasingleveto,toblock
alleortsatpeace.Allittakesisforoneoftheirrepresentavestoraisetheirhand.Iftheydo,
thentherewillbenonoyzone,nopolicalsoluonandnoUNpromptedintervenon.

Since2011,RussianUNAmbassadorChurkinhasraisedhishandsixmesinopposionto
resoluonspertainingtoSyria.Onveofthoseoccasions,hewasjoinedbyChina,most
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recentlyinopposiontoaceasereinAleppo.Weekslater,whenthelasthospitalintherebel
heldeasternpartofthecitywasdestroyedbybombs,theSecurityCouncilagreedtosend
observers.Butthusfar,notasingleonehasarrivedineasternAleppo.

AttheendofDecember,RussiaandTurkeynegoatedafragileceasereforSyriawithoutthe
parcipaonoftheUNorWesterncountries.TheSecurityCouncilwaslenootheropon
thantowelcomethisceasere.Thebody'sWesternmemberswereonlyabletomake
improvementstosomeoftheformulaons,meaningthatulmately,naonalpowers
essenallyusurpedtheresponsibilityoftheglobalorganizaon.AndtheSecurityCouncilonce
againdidn'tjustlookinept,butevenworse:irrelevant.

TurkeyandRussia,ofcourse,insistedthattheireortsweremerelyintendedtosupportUN
eortsandnotsupersedethem.TheUN,aerall,isimportantfortheRussiansinparcular:
TheSecurityCouncilistheplacewhereRussiacaninteractwiththeWestateyelevelthanks
toitsveto.

VitalyChurkin,meanwhile,ndshimselfintheabsurdposionofbeingresponsibleforending
awarinwhichhiscountryisanimportantplayer.Since2015,Russiahasbeenghngsideby
sidewithSyriandictatorBasharAssad,adespotwhohasaackedhisowncizenswith
chemicalweapons.

Whenaskedaboutthetremendousresponsibilityfacinghim,Churkindemurs.Assad'suseof
chemicalweaponshasn'tbeenproven,hesays,atleastnotfromRussia'sperspecve.Onthe
contrary,hehasasimpleexplanaonforhiscountry'sobsnacyontheSecurityCouncil:"Our
Westerncolleagueswerenotmakingasecretofthefactthattheirintenonistousethe
counciltotoppletheregime."

Churkinraiseshiseyebrowsderisively."Weweretellingthem,sorry,ifyouwanttotopplethe
regime,pleasegoahead,butthecouncilhasnothingtodowithit.It'snottheresponsibilityof
thecounciltotoppleregimes."

Thatistrue,ofcourse,butithasbeenthecouncil'sjobtoendwarssince1945."Wethe
peoplesoftheUnitedNaons,tosavesucceedinggeneraonsfromthescourgeofwar,which
twiceinourlifemehasbroughtuntoldsorrowtomankind"thatishowtheCharterofthe
UnitedNaons,thebody'sfoundingdocument,begins.

ThewarinSyriaisthedarkestchapterofourmes.ItwassparkedbyBasharAssad,theSyrian
president,whenheunleashedhishenchmenonpeacefullyprotesngcizensin2011.
Accordingtoesmates,morethan400,000peoplehavesincelosttheirlivesinSyria,withover
halfofthecountry'spopulaonhavingbeenforcedtoee.

Whenseverehumanrightsviolaonsoccur,theUNhastheresponsibilitytoprotect,withthe
SecurityCouncilallowedtointerfereinacountry'sinternalaairsinsuchcases.Whothen,if
nottheUN,couldputastoptothehorrorsinSyria?And,iftheUNfails,asitdidinRwanda,
BosniaandChechnya,whatisthepoint?

Itisanauspiciousmetoasksuchquesons.SinceJan.1,theUnitedNaonshashadanew
secretarygeneral,AntnioGuterresofPortugal.Itmarksanewbeginningaer10yearsunder
theleadershipoftheSouthKoreanBanKimoon.Itisalsoagoodmetotakeinventory:What
hasbecomeoftheUN,thisbureaucraccolossuswherepretenseandrealityaresofarapart?
Whatroledoestheglobalorganizaonplayinthiseraofautocratsandpopulistswhoglorify
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thenaonstateandhavenothingbutdisdainforinternaonalinstuons?Inthesemesof
Assad,PunandTrump?

TheAppealoftheGermanPresident

FallwasinfullswinginHamburgwhenBanKimoonstoppedbyforavisitlastOctober.The
lightvariedbetweenasicklygrayanddarkgrayasacolddrizzlefellfromlowhangingclouds.
Inside,though,inthegreatbanquethallofHamburgCityHall,thechandeliersglowedbright
andastringensemblewasplaying.Thestaidaudience,dressedinappropriatelydarktones,
listenedquietly.Theeventwasthe20thanniversaryoftheInternaonalTribunalfortheLawof
theSea,aninstuonestablishedonthebanksoftheElbeRiverinHamburgunderthe
auspicesoftheUN.

Thecourt,likemanyUNiniaves,istheorecallyafantascidea.Equippedwith21judges
from21dierentcountries,thetribunalischargedwithpeacefullyresolvingdierencesatsea.
Theproblem,though,isthefactthatonly30countrieshavethusfarrecognizedthecourt.The
restoftheworldapparentlypreferstoresolvetheirmarimeconictsinadierentmanner,
withtheresultthatthetribunalhasonlyadjudicated25casessinceits1996founding.

Nevertheless,itsanniversarywascelebratedandtheGermanpresidentmadeanappearanceto
holdaspeech.TheInternaonalTribunalfortheLawoftheSea,saidJoachimGauck,isa"great
asset."ButhethenturnedtoBanKimoonanddidn'tmincewords:"TheSecurityCouncilis
nowjustaspolarizedasitwasbeforetheWallcamedown,"Gaucksaid."Millionsofpeopleare
payingthepriceforthisparalysisoftheSecurityCouncil."

Insuchsurroundings,Gauck'swordsseemedliketheshrillscreechingofaviolin'sbow.The
Germanpresidentbroughttheghastlypresentinsidethebanquethall,speakingofwarandof
the"beliefthatthenaonstateisthesoleinstanceabletosolveproblems."Healsospokeof
thenoblegoalscontainedintheUNCharter.Whenhenished,applauselledtheroomand
connuedforlongerthanwasstrictlynecessary.

AndBanKimoon,whohadbeenthefaceoftheUNfortheprevious10years?Helistened
moonlesslytoGauck'sspeech,hispostureslightlybent.Whenitwashisturntospeak,he
invokedthe14thUNSustainableDevelopmentGoal,whichfocusesontheproteconofthe
world'soceans,andhenotedtheimportanceoftheUNConvenonontheLawoftheSea,
whichformsthefoundaonforthetribunal,andthesignicanceofthe21stcaseaddressedby
thetribunal.

Butitwasdiculttolisten.Herewasthemanwhosedutywasactuallythatofremindingthe
governmentsoftheworldoftheirresponsibilitytopeace.TheUNsecretarygeneralhasvery
lileactualpower,buthecandemandaenonasthevoiceoftheworld'sconscience,asa
kindofworldlypope.Ban,though,simplyreadouthisspeech,stoicallyandwithaquietvoice.
Hedidn'trespondatalltothepassionatespeechhehadjustheardfromGermanPresident
Gauck.

TheBirthofaGrandIdea

TheUNisactuallywellsituatedtoexertaposiveinuenceontheworld.With193members,
almosteverycountryintheworldbelongs.Itistheonlyinternaonalorganizaonwithan
almostincontroverblelegimacy.

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TheLeagueofNaons,formedin1920followingthedestruconofWorldWarI,wastherst
aempttoformaglobal,policalorganizaon.ButitwasunsuccessfulbecausetheUnited
Statesneverjoinedandothercountriessoonle.ButduringWorldWarII,FranklinD.
Roosevelt,WinstonChurchillandlaterJosefStalinrevisitedtheidea.Itwasn'toutofidealism:
TheAllieswantedtocreateapostwarorganizaonthatcouldhelpprotecttheirinterests.

TheresultwasthattheU.S.,GreatBritain,China,theSovietUnionandFrancereceived
permanentseatsontheSecurityCouncil.Chinaatthemewasfarawayfrombeingagreat
power,butamongtheworld'sleadingpowers,itwasseenasawelcomecounterbalanceto
Japan,whichhadn'tyetcapitulatedattheme.

Today,theworldorderlookscompletelydierent,withtheWesternviewnolongertheonly
onewithsignicantinuence.RussiaandChinacarryanequalweightonthegeopolicalstage
andemergingnaonsaredemandingtheirownseatatthetableofpowerandinuence.The
traumaofWorldWarIIisfadingintothepast.

Itisnowpossibletoseethevetorightsgiventothevepermanentmembersasafataldesign
aw,onethathasparalyzedtheSecurityCouncilandprolongedSyria'stragedyor,inamore
soberformulaon,asareeconofpostwarpowerrelaonsthatisnolongerappropriatefor
today'smulpolarworld.Becausedespiteallofitsnoblegoals,theUNisnotdivorcedfrom
reality.

Inthealmost72yearssinceitsfounding,theUNhasseensomenotableachievements:During
theColdWar,itwastheforumwherethesuperpowerscouldspeakwithoneanother;ithas
helpedgivebirthtoanumberofnaonstates;andin1948,thebodyagreedontheUniversal
DeclaraonofHumanRights.Morerecently,itwasinstrumentalintheformaonoftheParis
ClimateAgreementandalsoissuedtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals,whichaimat
eliminangwar,hungerandpoverty.

SuchplansareafeatherintheUN'scap,butthehighertheaims,themorefrustrangisthe
reality.UNpeacekeepingtroops,whicharechargedwithestablishingsecurityinwarzones,
haveoenfailedor,worse,evenabusedthosewhoneedprotecon.Fordecades,therehave
beenrepeatedaccusaonsofUNtroopsengaginginsexualabuse,trackinginwomenor
forcedprostuoninSarajevo,Liberia,HaiandmostrecentlyintheCentralAfrican
Republic.Invesgaonsintosuchscandalsoenleaveplentytobedesired.

PerhapstheUNsimplyhastoomuchonitsplate.Overtheyears,ithasgrowntobecomea
monstrousapparatus.It'smostimportantorganizaonsaretheSecurityCouncil(SC),the
GeneralAssembly(GA),theEconomicandSocialCouncil(ECOSOC),theInternaonalCourtof
Jusce(ICJ)andtheSecretariat,headedbythesecretarygeneral.Beyondthataredozensof
suborganizaons,fundsandprograms.Some44,000peopleworkfortheUNanditsannual
budgetof2.7billiondollarsis,whenmeasuredagainstitsmandate,absurdlyny.

AVisittotheSecretaryGeneral

TheUNheadquartersbuildinginNewYorkrisesabovetheshoresoftheEastRiver,alooming
skyscraperpairedwithalowbuildingnextdoor.Thebuildingwasdesignedin1947byLe
CorbusierandOscarNiemeyerandsymbolicworksofartdecoratetheforecourt,includinga
bronzeglobedonatedbyItalyandasculptureofapistolwithaknoedbarrelfrom
Luxembourg.InsidetherearesplendidhallsalongwithareproduconofPicasso's"Guernica,"

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buttherearealsoplentyofplacesweretheplasterispeelingothewallsandmanyofthe
ocesarebadlyinneedofrenovaon.

WevisitedBanKimoonforaninterviewjustafewweeksbeforehehandedcontroloftheUN
tohissuccessor.Thebuilding'sentrancehallincludesportraitsofalleightofthesecretary
generalswhohavethusfarledtheUN,allofthemmen.Onthe37thoor,thedooropensto
thesecretarygeneral'soceandBanKimoonrisesfromhisdesk."GutenTag,"hesaysquietly
inGerman,oeringaweakhandshake.ThemanattheheadoftheUnitedNaonsseems
reserved,almostfragile.

WhenBanlooksbackatthepastseveralyears,heisabletoidenfyseveralthingsofwhichhe
isproud:theclimateagreement,thesustainabilitygoalsandtheshareofwomenin
management,forexample.Buthedoesn'tnditnearlyaseasytotalkaboutthefailures.
"Syria,"Bansays,"isatragedy."Thedeningtragedyofhistenure.WhenBanbecame
secretarygeneralin2007,DamascuswasseenasahipcityintheMiddleEastwhileAleppoand
Palmyrawereamonghumanity'sanquetreasures.Theinternaonalcommunityshouldhave
spokenwithaunitedvoice,hesays,soundingresigned.

CouldnotBanhaveforcedthemtodosowiththemoralauthorityoftheoceheholds?He
sayshehasalwaysspokenfromhisheart,asishisstyle.Somemes,hesays,hestruckamore
forcefulandexplicittonewhileinotherinstanceshepreferredquietdiplomacy.Singacross
fromhim,itisdiculttoimagineBanbeingforcefulandexplicit.

Ontheotherhand,whatgoodarepassionatewordswhentheydon'tchangeanythinganyway?
FollowingthedebatesintheSecurityCouncilistoexperiencethekindoffrustraonthatmany
whotakepartinthosedebatesfeel.

ShortlybeforethefallofeasternAleppo,U.S.AmbassadortotheUNSamanthaPowerturned
toherRussiancounterpartChurkin."Isthereliterallynothingthatcanshameyou?"sheasked.
"Istherenoactofbarbarismagainstcivilians,noexecuonofachildthatgetsunderyour
skin?"Churkinjeeredback,sayingthatPower,anAmerican,wasacng"asthoughshewere
MotherTeresaherself."

StephenO'Brien,theUN'semergencyreliefcoordinator,hasrepeatedlyreportedtothe
SecurityCouncilaboutthehardshipsfacingtheSyrians.Inonesuchpresentaonattheendof
October,hesaid:"ThesearepeoplejustlikeyouandmenotsingaroundatableinNew
Yorkbutforcedintodesperate,pilesssuering,theirfuturewipedout."

Onemonthlater,hesaid:"Iammoreorlessatmywit'sendasahumanbeing."

Whendiplomacyfails,allthat'sleistheareaforwhichO'Brienisresponsible:emergency
relief.ButnoteventhathasbeensucientlyeecveinSyria.

OntheSyrianBorder

It'stheThursdaybeforeChristmasandanicywindisblowingthroughtheTurkishbordercityof
Reyhanli.Tanksarerollingthroughthestreetsandsoldiersarepatrollingbetweenthe
checkpoints.

BediakoBuahenetrompsthroughthemudassleetblowsintohisface.ACanadianasylum
aorneyinanelegantwintercoatandwhitescarf,BuaheneorganizesaidconvoysforSyriaon

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behalfoftheUnitedNaons.OnthispreChristmasThursdaymorning,24trucksfullofdiapers,
washingpowder,toothbrushesandheangcoalaretobesentacrosstheborder.InNovember
andDecember,upto30suchvehiclesdepartedforSyriafromReyhanlieverydayandBuahene
esmatesthattheUNhasprovidedforaround5millionSyrians.

Suchaidisparcularlyurgentnow.TheconqueringofAleppobyRussia,IranandtheSyrian
regimehasletensofthousandsofpeoplewithoutaroofovertheirheadsandmanydon't
knowwheretolookforshelter.TherefugeecampsinSyria'srebelcontrollednorthare
overowingandthebordertoTurkeyhasbeensealedo.

Some200kilometersawayinGaziantep,UNhumanitarianaidorganizerTrondJensensitsinan
ocethatlooksmorelikeafortress.Ametalwallprotectsitfromthestreetandsecurity
personnelpatdownvisitorsastheysearchforweapons.Previously,JensenworkedfortheUN
inSudan,YemenandLiberia,butnoneofthem,hesays,arecomparabletoSyria."People
wonderwhywedon'tjustbulldozeourwayin.Butit'snotassimpleasthat,"hesays.

Intheearlyyearsofthewar,UNemergencyreliefworkerscouldn'tdomuch.ItwasonlyinJuly
2014thattheSecurityCouncilmanagedtopassaresoluonallowingthehumanitarianarmof
theUNtotransportaidsuppliesacrossfouraddionalbordercrossingsintoSyria.

Jensenandhisteaminvesgatewhichitemspeopleneedthemostandtheyensurethatthey
arethentransportedintothecountrywiththehelpoftheirlocalpartnerorganizaons.Before
aconvoycandepartforSyria,JensensendsanoverviewofthefreighttoUNworkersin
DamascuswhotheninformtheSyriangovernment.

Itisrelavelyeasytoreachareasthatareunderregimecontrol,butitisextremelydicultto
assistthosewholiveinrebelheldlocaons.Aidworkersareoenblockedorareprevented
fromdoinganythingduetosecurityconcerns.InSeptember,aUNconvoycameunderreasit
washeadingtowardrebelterritory,presumablyfromRussianwarplanes.Around20people
diedintheaack.SomewithintheUNbelievethattheorganizaonshouldshowmoreself
condenceinitsdealingswithAssadandmaintainagreaterdistance.

StarnginAugust2015,Britain'sGuardiannewspaperbeganpublishingaseriesofreports
callingtheUN'sneutralityintoqueson.ThepaperallegedthattheUNhadpaiddozensof
millionsofdollarstoSyrianaidorganizaonsthathavecloseestotheAssadclan,including
$8.5milliontooneorganizaonthatstandsunderthepatronageofAssad'swife.

ButAssad'sregimedoesn'tjustprotfromtheaid,italsointerferesintheworkoftheaid
workersthemselvesbywayofblockades,byconscangmedicinesorbyprevenng
evacuaons.

UNEmergencyReliefCoordinatorO'Briensaysdemandsthathisaidworkersshouldrefrain
fromcontactwiththeSyrianregimeresultfroma"misunderstandingoftheroleandthe
constuonoftheUN."ThehumanitarianarmoftheUN,hesays,isimparal,independent
andneutral,whichmeansthatitmustreachouttoallparesinaconictinordertoreach
peopleinneed.

O'Brienandhisteamfaceextremelydicultcondionsintheireorttoreducethesueringof
Syrians.Buttheycannotresolvetheconict.ThatcanonlyhappeniftheSecurityCounciltakes
theiniave.

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ParallelRealiesinNewYork

WeaskedVitalyChurkin,theRussianambassadortotheUN,whatwouldhavetohappenfor
hiscountrytorelinquishitsvetointheSecurityCouncil.Hesmilessmugly."Inthefuture
perfectworld,Iamsurethisisgoingtohappen,"hesays."Butthecomposionofthecurrent
policalworldissuchthattheU.S.anditsalliesalmostalwayshaveninevotesintheSecurity
Council,whichiswhattheyneedinordertoadoptaresoluon.Soifwedidn'thavetheveto
power,eachweekortwiceaweeksomeonefromWashingtonwouldsendadrarevoluon,
Russiavotesno,nobodycares,theresoluonisadopted."Churkin'sspeechbecomesmore
rapidandbing."TheU.S.wouldn'tevencaretotalktoanybody.TheSecurityCouncilcould
justmovetoWashington."

Butwhat'sthepointofaSecurityCouncilthatisjustaspolarizedasitwasduringtheColdWar?
"No,no,no,"Churkinsays."Thisisanoverdramazaon."Manyyearsago,hesays,anolder
diplomattoldhimabouttheColdWardays."IftheU.S.wasvongforaresoluon,theSoviet
Unionwassupposedtoabstainorvoteagainst....Thisisnottheatudetodayatall.Weare
tryingourbest."

EvenChurkin,though,doesn'tdenythatthemoodhasbecomefrigid.Hehasrepresentedhis
countryattheUnitedNaonssince2006,makinghimthelongestservingambassadoronthe
SecurityCouncil."Iarrivedhereatwhatmightseemaninnocentme,"hesays."Theonlybig
problemattheUNwasclimatechange."

ButthentheArabSpringbegan.In2011,theSecurityCouncilpassedaresoluononLibyaon
whichChurkinabstainedandwhichwas,fromtheRussianperspecve,thenabusedto
overthrowtheregimeofMoammarGadha.Now,RussiaisseekingtoprotectaSyrian
governmentwithwhichithasenjoyedgoodrelaonsfordecades.

IfRussiahadn'tcometoAssad'said,hisgovernmentwouldhavebeen"toppledbyterrorists,"
Churkinsays,addingthattheWestistoblame."ItwastheU.S.andU.K.intervenoninIraq
thatcreatedthewholeproblem"intheMiddleEast,Churkinsays.WhenWesterncounterparts
aackhimoverhisvotesontheSyriaconict,"Iremindthemtheyshouldlookintothemirror
moreoen."

TwentyblocksfromtheRussianmissiontotheUN,inasundrenchedcornerocewitha
breathtakingviewofManhaan,theEastRiverandUNheadquarters,sitsChurkin'sBrish
counterpartMahewRycro,48,shakinghisheadvigorously."TheRussianshaveapolicy...to
distractaenonawayfromthetruth,createwhattheycallfacts,butwhatwecallfantasy,"he
says.TheU.K.'stopUNdiplomatndsitdiculttohidehisfrustraon."Russia'svetoesare
paralyzingtheSecurityCouncil,"Rycrosays."They'rekillingthereputaonofthecouncil."

Rycroconnues:"OurgoalinSyriaispeace"and"atransionawayfromAssad"which,he
says,isbasicallythesamething."TherewillonlybepeacewhenAssadleaves."Syria's
president,hesays,losthislegimacywhenheusedchemicalweaponsonhisownpeople.By
supporngAssad,heconnues,Russiaismerelyprolongingtheconict.

ChurkinandRycrooenndthemselvessinginthesameroomwiththesamemandate:
thatofendingthewarinSyria.ButanabysshasopenedupbetweentheWestandtheEast,
onewhichgetsdeeperwitheachpassingday.China,thehvetopower,usuallysideswith
Russia,primarilybecauseitisopposedonprincipletotheUNinterferingincountries'internal
aairs.
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TheUNhesitatedforalongme,toolong,whentheSyriansroseupinpeacefulprotests
againsttheAssadregime.BanKimoontookawaitandseeapproachandtheArabLeague
proposedpossiblesoluonsthatwentnowhere.UNocialsmetwithAssadandreached
understandingswithhim,butthedictatormerelybrokethemandunleashedthewar.Inspring
2012,theUNandtheArabLeaguenamedKoAnnanasspecialenvoytoSyriawhereupon
Annanpresentedasixpointplancallingforadialoguebetweentheregimeandtheopposion.
Buttheplanfailed:RussiaremainedloyaltoAssadandtheopposiondefendeditself.Annan
gaveup.

Thenextspecialenvoy,LadakhBrahimi,wasforcedtostandbyandwatchin2013whenAssad
transgressedtheAmerican"redline"anddeployedchemicalweapons,whereuponUS
PresidentBarackObamaquietlydisregardedthelinehehaddrawn.Brahimi'ssuccessor,Staan
deMistura,hasbeenenduringhisposion'simpotencesince2014.Heishopingthatpeace
talksmightonceagaintakeplaceinGenevainFebruary.

ButRussiaandtheWestndthemselveslivinginparallelrealies.WiththeSyriancrisis,the
UNtoohasenteredthepostfactera.

BrishUNAmbassadorRycromenonstheresultsofanindependentcommissionthatwas
chargedbytheSecurityCouncilwithinvesgangthereportofchemicalweaponsuseinSyria.
Thecommissioncametotheconclusionthatsuchweaponshadbeendeployedagainstcivilians
onatleastthreeoccasions.Churkin,however,accuseshisWesterncounterpartsofhaving
exertedpressureonthecommission.

EvenmoreabsurdisthedisputeoverabombaackonaschoolinIdlib,inwhich22children
andsixteacherswerekilledattheendofOctober.ThereareindicaonsthattheRussianair
forcewasinvolvedintheaackandRycrohascondemnedthebombing.Churkin,though,
maintainsthattheschoolwasneverevenaackedintherstplace.

AndwhereasChurkininsiststhathiscountryisghngterrorisminSyria,Rycrocounters:
"ThereareterroristsinSyria.Thereisalsoacoalionof60countriesthatisghngagainstISin
Syriaandelsewhere.Unfortunately,Russiaisn'tpartofthatcoalion."

WhatWillBecomeoftheUN?

Thecouncilwhosepurposeistomaketheworldasaferplaceworksaboutaswellasawindmill
withbrokenblades.Therehavebeennumerouseortstoreformit,toforciblyshapeitintoa
bodythatcanfulllitsmandate.

TheSecurityCouncilhasanarsenalofmeansatitsdisposaltoputastoptoghng:ceaseres,
peacekeepingmissions,militaryobservers,economicsancons,weaponsembargoes,travel
moratoriums,thefreezingofdiplomacrelaonsorcollecveintervenon.Butnoneofthese
meansisemployedifoneofthevetopowersvoteagainstit.

TheUN,though,mustoenpitchinoncewarhascometoanend,nomaerwhattheresult.
InthecaseofSyria,thatcouldmeanthatVladimirPunandfutureU.S.PresidentDonald
TrumpwillstrikeadealtokeepAssadinpower.ThatwouldresultintheUNhavingtoworkon
behalfofAssadinanocialcapacity.Werethattohappen,theUnitedNaons,whosejobitis
tolimitthelustforpoweramongitsmembers,wouldnditselfstuckdeepinthemuckof
realpolik.

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16/01/2017 DruckversionWarandPeace:DisunityandImpotenceattheUnitedNationsSPIEGELONLINEInternational

What,then,canbedonetolimitthepowerofthosecountrieswithtoomuchofit?

GermanyandothercountrieshavelonginsistedthatthenumberofpermanentSecurity
Councilmembersbeincreased.Doingso,however,couldresultinevenmorecomplicated
stasis.Anotherconceptforeseesthecreaonofanewcategoryofnonpermanentmembers
whowouldremaininthecouncilforlongerthanthecurrenttwoyearterm.FranceandBritain,
meanwhile,areinfavorofpermanentmembersrenouncingtheirvetorightsininstanceswhere
crimesagainsthumanityhaveoccurred.Butwhowouldhavethelastwordonwhetheracrime
againsthumanityhastakenplace?TheWest?Russia?

MichaelMoller,directorgeneraloftheUNoceinGeneva,hasavisionforhowtheSecurity
Councilcouldlookinthefuture.Thecouncil,hesays,"hastobemorerepresentave."He
proposesveregionalcouncilsthatwouldaddresscrisesintheirgeographicalareas."Theywill
haveknowledgeoftheregions."Eachregionalcouncilwouldhave15membersandthree
membersofeachregionalcouncilwouldhaveaseatontheglobalcouncil.

Moller,though,alsobelievesitwillbeimpossibletoabolishthevetoescurrentlyheldbythe
vepermanentmembers.Heishopingthatthepressuretoreformwillcomefromcivilsociety.
SomeUNachievementswouldneverhavecomeaboutwithoutpublicpressure,hesaid,and
menonedtheUniversalDeclaraonofHumanRightsasanexample.Headdsthataglobal
movementfocusingontheUNisnecessary.

Itisaniceidea.ButdespitealloftheimagesfromSyria,therehavebeennomassprotests
againsttheSecurityCouncilandnodemonstraonsinfrontofUNoces.Therehaveonlybeen
myriadimpotentexpressionsofdismay.

GuidetoSavingtheWorld

IsitunfairtoexpecttheUNtobegranderandbeerthanitsmemberstates?Theorganizaon
itselfraisesthisexpectaonbywayofitsdeclaraonsofpurposeandavowals.AtUN
headquartersinNewYork,aposterevenhangsinfrontofthebasementrestroomsproclaiming
"GuidetoSavingtheWorld."

Buttheorganizaon'scentralbody,theSecurityCouncil,isonlyasstrongasthewillingnessto
compromiseshownbyitsvepermanentmembers.Thesevecountriesalonecanbringwars
toanendifit'sintheirinterests.

TheGeneralAssembly,whichrepresentsall193UNmemberstates,couldbecometheforumof
atrueglobaldemocracyifithadcontroloversuchadevelopment.Butinordertostrengthen
theGeneralAssemblytothepointthatitmightbecomerelevantincrisessuchastheone
ongoinginSyria,itwouldneedsurprise,surprisetheagreementoftheSecurityCouncil.

TheUNfailstoliveuptoitsown,selfproclaimedmission:Itneitherunitesthenaonsnordoes
itsavetheworld.Indeed,itcan'tdosobecausetheworlddoesn'tallowit.Butweneedit
nonethelessintheseuneasymes.Perhapsnowmorethaneverbefore.

TheUN,aerall,holdsupamirrortohumanityandremindsusthatthingscouldbedierent.
AndperhapsthatistheUN'sgreatestmerit,thatitshowsuswhatcouldbepossibleliving
togetherinpeace,stoppingthecatastrophicwarmingofourplanetandendinghunger.More
thananything,theUNisaninspiraon,anincenve.Thereinlaysitsauthority,butalsoits
failure.

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16/01/2017 DruckversionWarandPeace:DisunityandImpotenceattheUnitedNationsSPIEGELONLINEInternational

ADecembermorninginNewYorkservestodemonstratehowgrotesqueandcumbersomeit
canbe.HundredsofdiplomatsarestreamingintotheGeneralAssemblyHallfortheswearing
inofAntnioGuterres.Theday'sagendaincludesthedocumentA/71/L.40andAgendaItem
113andalloftheitemsarefaithfullyfullled:theadoponoftheresoluonpayingtributeto
theoutgoingsecretarygeneral,a90minutespeechpraisingBanKimoonandafarewellspeech
fromBan,allaccompaniedbystandingovaons.

Then,the67yearoldGuterrestakeshisoathofoce.Hehugseveryoneonthestage,one
aertheother,andreceiveskissesfrommanyofthem.

TheexpectaonsofthenewUNsecretarygeneralareimmense.Itishopedthathewillprovide
strongerleadershipthanBanKimoonandthathewillbelistenedtobythoseinpower.Asa
formerheadoftheUNRefugeeAgencyandanexprimeministerofPortugal,heknowsboth
theUNandtheinsandoutsofpolics.Guterresisconsideredanintellectual,assomeonewho
canlosehimselfforhoursinabookstore.HegrewupasaleistChrisaninadictatorship.Asa
polician,heprovedtohaveaknackforforgingconsensus.

EvenwithouttheeleconofDonaldTrumptothepresidencyoftheUnitedStates,Guterres
wouldnothavebeenfacedwithaneasytask.Now,manyattheUNareconcernedthatthe
incomingU.S.administraonwillseektofurtherweakentheglobalbody.IfTrumpconnuesto
denyclimatechange,toexpresscontemptformullateralismandtodenigratetheUNon
Twier,itwillbeadiculttestfortheecacyofGuterres'reasonandpragmasm.

ElementsofhisinauguralspeechinDecembersoundpromising."TheUnitedNaonsmustbe
readytochange,"hesaidinhis20minuteaddress.Hespeaksofhisreformideas,talksabout
sexualabusecommiedbyUNpeacekeepers,demandslessbureaucracyandinsistsonthe
needforimprovedlegalproteconforwhistleblowers.

ItisconspicuousthatheonlybrieymenonsSyriainhisinauguraladdressandthefactthat
thecrisishardlygotamenoninhisnewyear'saddresseither.Aerhisswearingin,however,
reportersinthefoyeraskhimabouttheongoingconict."Thisisawarinwhicheverybodyis
losing,"hesaysbeforepromisingthathewould"engagepersonally"ineortstostemthe
violence.Eventhough,headds,heknowsthat"thesecretarygeneralisnottheleaderofthe
world....Theprimacyoftheworkcomestomemberstates."

ByKatrinKuntz,MarcPitzke,MaximilianPopp,GordonRepinskiandSamihaShafy

URL:

hp://www.spiegel.de/internaonal/world/syriarevealsimpotenceofunitednaonsa
1128938.html

RelatedSPIEGELONLINElinks:

DamascusNights:DespairandDebaucheryinAssad'sCapital(12/13/2016)
hp://www.spiegel.de/internaonal/world/lifeinwarmedamascusassyriacollapsesa
1125546.html
RefugeesinCrisis:TheDeathStripattheTurkishSyrianBorder(12/07/2016)
hp://www.spiegel.de/internaonal/world/deathstriponborderbetweenturkeyandsyriaa
1124706.html

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/syriarevealsimpotenceofunitednationsa1128938druck.html 10/11
16/01/2017 DruckversionWarandPeace:DisunityandImpotenceattheUnitedNationsSPIEGELONLINEInternational

TheEndofPower:WhatWillRemainofObama'sLegacy?(11/18/2016)
hp://www.spiegel.de/internaonal/world/thedeepbondoftrustbetweenobamaand
merkela1122000.html

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