2 Sep 2013

McCully concerned at UN 'failure to act' over Syria

9:36 am on 2 September 2013

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully says international confidence that the United Nations can act against Syria is dropping, and there's a risk the UN Security Council will be severely diminished because of its failure to act.

Mr McCully, who says he's been in talks over the weekend with other foreign ministers, says New Zealand wants to give the council one last attempt to deal with the issue.

However he says the falling confidence being expressed internationally is making that a difficult process.

The United States says it has firm evidence that the chemical agent sarin was used by Syrian government forces in an attack last month that killed more than 1400 people.

Mr McCully told Morning Report New Zealand's bid for a seat on the Security Council is in the back of his mind but it's more important New Zealand is seen to be a responsible citizen.