Syria ceasefire a problem beyond even Brangelina
Who will remember New Zealand’s efforts in this week of ceaseless killing and celebrity uncouplings?
THIS week was building into one of the most significant for New Zealand ever on the world stage – then Brangelina broke up. Sigh. Not that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were trying to ruin New Zealand’s day in the United Nations sun.
Sure, they have been the most celebritiest celebrity couple in the world, with over half a billion in the bank, and more fame than whole boatloads of real rich racist housewives from Auckland.
But they’re human, too. No doubt, like any couple they have moments of being over each other. And it’s not their fault that as soon as they called time on their 12-year union it took over the news.
It’s just that this week was the first time in 30 years that little ol’ New Zealand chaired the UN’s all powerful Security Council and it came at a time when the war in Syria is at a crossroads.
At a crucial summit of world leaders in New York, New Zealand put Syria at the top of the agenda.
It was our chance to make a meaningful contribution towards what was – as Prime Minister To’osavili John Key told the UN – the most serious crisis of our time. Key delivered an impassioned speech full of hardhitting common sense. He blasted the UN for failing Syria and told the Security Council off for being useless.
The message was clear – for the sake of the Syrian people, everyone needs to stop being dicks and actually do something constructive to end this war, or innocent people will continue to die in a conflict now in its sixth year.
Apparently in the meeting, emotions ran high, there was more impassioned debate and everybody agreed there was a desperate need to do something for Syria.
If any recommendations came out of it, perhaps it would have been for world leaders to keep angsting over Syria, while nothing continues to happen. Well, not quite nothing. There is a painfully negotiated ‘‘ceasefire’’ but it seems to have ceased barely after it began.
US-led forces – with help from the Aussies – accidentally bombed the wrong target, killing over 60 Syrian soldiers. Cue Western leaders running away from reporters while blithely mouthing that they ‘‘regret the loss of life’’.
Later, a UN convoy trying to deliver humanitarian aid to the Syrian capital was bombed, killing 11 aid workers. The Russians were blamed.
Not so much a ceasefire then but more of a drinks break.
In the future, this could be a question in a history test: Who was the chair of the UN security REUTERS council when the Syrian war evolved into World War III?
New Zealand tried – and along with everyone else must keep trying – but all the wringing of UN hands this week has been for nought.
Not even Brangelina could have done something.