Jordanian PM, in Prague, calls for greater UN role in Syria

Prague, July 16 (CTK) - The United Nations Organisation (UN) should play a much bigger role in the solution to the armed conflict in Syria and exert a stronger pressure on the government, Jordanian Prime Minister Fayez Tarawneh said yesterday.

Tarawneh is currently on an official visit to the Czech Republic.

He said it is not possible to wait for the two parties to the conflict to start a dialogue by themselves.

Jordan and Syria are neighbours. Thousands of Syrians are fleeing to Jordan seeking refuge from violence in their homeland.

Tatawneh said some 135,000 refugees have already come to his country, which is the biggest number of all neighbours of Syria.

He said Jordan is trying to cope with the situation, but added that it does not have enough water and finances.

Tarawneh said the number of people the U.N. sent to Syria was small and they had no influence on the developments in the country.

He said the situation is very serious and that pressure must be put on the Syrian government in the U.N. Security Council and that a solution must be found to the everyday bloodshed in the country.

The International Red Cross Committee has said a civil war between the government forces and the opposition has been underway in Syria.

The U.N. Security Council is now discussing a draft resolution that is to give a new mandate to a U.N. observer mission in Syria.

Western countries want the resolution to include article 7 of the U.N. Charter that enables sanctions, including the use of force, to be imposed on the party that does not fulfill the resolution.

Sergei Lavrov, foreign minister of Russia that has long been opposed to the use of force, says the draft resolution is an attempt at blackmail by western states.

Tarawneh also had talks with Czech Prime Petr Necas yesterday. On Tuesday he will be received by President Vaclav Klaus.

Besides the situation in Syria and all Middle East, Necas and Tarawneh discussed business projects.

"CKD Praha DIZ is striving for participation in the modernisation of some electric power plants in Jordan, AZD firm wants to take part in the upgrading of certain elements of the cargo railway tracks leading from phosphate mines in Jordan to the port of Aqaba," Necas said.

The Czech armament maker Ceska zbrojovka is interested in the production of light mortars and other fire arms for Jordan, Necas said.