Syria considerations confine calls for accountability in Geneva bubble

Geopolitical considerations and the current battle on the ground in Syria are preventing the search for greater accountability on human rights issues in the ongoing conflict, according to diplomats in Geneva observing the U.N. Human Rights Council.

"We have found that the call to follow up on accountability differs according to the situation on the ground," a diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity told the Hürriyet Daily News.

In many cases, geopolitical considerations have been outweighing the work of the HRC, which is putatively guided by the words of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan: "We will not enjoy security without development; we will not enjoy development without security; and we will not enjoy either without respect for human rights."

A draft resolution entitled "The human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic" was recently submitted by the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, the United States, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Morocco and Jordan and Turkey.

"Turkey is keen to use the resolution to talk about the [Bashar] al-Assad regime's violations of human rights. But the priority of the resolution's [author], the U.K., is clear about extending the mission of inquiry," the diplomat said.

Turkey is currently not a member of the council of 47 member states, which are elected by the majority of members of the U.N. General Assembly through a direct and secret ballot. However, it is involved in the work of the HRC via different mechanisms such as the co-sponsoring of draft resolutions or by being member of core groups tabling resolutions. A considerable number of Geneva-based diplomats from different countries defined Turkey's role at the council as a "bridge-building country" mainly because of its...