Update: From What’s in Blue, the new blog of the Security Council Report:
It seems that following yesterday’s consultations, Brazil has put together elements for a unified message by the Council based on some of the differences that emerged during the consultations. It appears that some Council members would like the condemnation of violence to include not just the use of force against civilians, but also sectarian violence and hostility against security forces. There also seems to be some differences over how to refer to the reforms announced by the Syrian government. Other areas of disagreement appear to be over references to the attacks as crimes against humanity, and the need to cooperate with the Human Rights Council resolution (A/HRC/RES/S-16/1) of 29 April which requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights “to dispatch urgently a mission to the Syrian Arab Republic to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law and to establish the facts and circumstances of such violations and of the crimes perpetrated, with a view to avoiding impunity and ensuring full accountability.”
It appears that a number of members, like Russia, who have been resisting any Council decision on Syria have indicated that they might now support a presidential statement. However, it appears that this continues to be problematic for Lebanon. The European members appear to still prefer a resolution.
The Security Council is meeting again this morning to discuss a potential resolution condemning violence in Syria. In a sign that Russian opposition to Security Council action on Syria maybe be “thawing,” the Russian Foreign Ministry released this statement yesterday.
Moscow is expressing serious concern over the incoming reports of numerous casualties. The use of force both against civilians and against members of governmental agencies is unacceptable and must be discontinued forthwith.
We urge the Syrian government and opposition to exercise maximum restraint, to renounce provocations and repression, to observe legality and respect international humanitarian law. Of particular importance is the swiftest possible launch of a comprehensive responsible and meaningful dialogue to address the pressing domestic political, economic and social problems in the interests of all Syrians, to restore civil harmony and to ensure a stable democratic development of the country.
In the meantime, the crackdown continues today.