SYRIA AND THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL

The United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution on Monday calling on Syria to cooperate with the U.N. investigation into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. UN security council resolutions don't always mean much and most times are watered down and don't have much bite. Let's disect resolution 1636.

It stated "while Syrian authorities have cooperated in form but not substance with the Commission, several Syrian officials tried to mislead the Commission by giving false or inaccurate information."

It listed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's brother, Maher Assad, and brother-in-law Assef Shawkat, the chief of military intelligence, as suspects in the investigation and accused Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk A-Shara of lying to investigators.

It called for all states to freeze the assets and prevent the entry or transit of suspects designated by the Commission or the Lebanese government.

A lack of cooperation would constitute a "serious violation". The U.N. International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) was asked to report back to the Council by Dec. 15 or earlier if Syria's cooperation was not forthcoming, to allow the Council to "consider further action" if necessary".

The U.S., Britain and France backed off of an earlier demand that the resolution include a direct threat of sanctions, in order to gain the support of Russia and China, which opposed the idea of sanctioning Syria. The resolution was adopted under Chapter VII of the U.N. charter, which means it is militarily enforceable.

An appeal was made for Syria to end all support "for all forms of terrorist action and all assistance to terrorist groups."

Let's keep a close watch on this.

--UPDATE: "Although Syria is not satisfied with the new resolution, Syria will still cooperate with an international investigation committee," Bashali Kanfani, director of the Foreign Media Department of the Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua over phone.

"Syria has engaged in good cooperation with the committee, and Syria has taken specific measures, including setting up a special commission of enquiry, which could establish a mechanism ofcooperation and coordination among Syria, Lebanon and chief investigator Detlev Mehlis," she said.

She, however, criticized the resolution as "not just" for Syria,saying that Syria is angry at it.

"We hope to reveal the truth of the assassination of Hariri,"she added. From Xinhua.