In view of the tragedy which has developed in Syria since the Arab Spring hit the region, Wednesday's statement by the UN Security Council was past due. The international community has finally found its voice in a common declaration following the brutal attacks by the Syrian regime against entire protesting cities.

This is at least gratifying in view of the fact that Russia and China, but also the emerging powers Brazil, India and South Africa placed the moral duty of the Security Council over their national interests - which can also be attributed to skillful diplomatic efforts by Germany.

Diplomatic choice of words

The ability to compromise is essential to diplomacy. So both sides - the government and the opposition - were urged to act with utmost restraint in the UN statement. The wording blatantly distorts the true balance of power in Syria. It practically ridicules the over 1,000 people on the side of the opposition who have been killed already.

And yet this statement, which does not carry the weight of a UN Resolution, constitutes progress. The Syrian dictator President Bashar al-Assad will now have to realize that even his ally Russia is no longer willing to accept without a word of protest the permanent human rights violations of his military apparatus.

Moscow's protective hand could slowly pull back if it's recognized that stubbornly adhering to the Assad regime could in the long term cause greater damage to Russian interests in the Middle East than the Kremlin would like. Perhaps Assad will then decide to answer the phone when UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calls.

Weak consolation for the opposition

Even this weak response from the Security Council therefore has a certain signaling effect. It won't suit anyone if Syria - like its neighbor Iraq - slides into an endless cycle of anarchy and chronic religious violence. As a whole, though, the possibilities for influencing Syria from abroad are limited: a few sanctions here, an international statement there.

There will not be a military intervention in Syria for a multitude of reasons. The strategic location on the seam of the Middle East conflict, the alliance with Russia, NATO's experience with its deployment in Libya - all of this rules out a military operation for humanitarian reasons.

In this respect, the commitment of the international community will hardly go beyond this UN Security Council's statement. For the people in Syria, it's the bitter truth and the plea from New York only a weak consolation.

Author: Daniel Scheschkewitz / sac
Editor: Michael Knigge