Speaker, hon Van der Merwe, I will repeat myself for your benefit. I did not say we should just sit back and look at the situation as it worsened without doing anything more. I said we needed to persuade the powers that be. That is the best we can do under the circumstances.
There are only five countries that really have the veto power. We must persuade them to reach a consensus position that seeks to create peace, because peace won't happen on its own. Both the opposing sides are at a point where they believe they can rout the other. What is required is a peace-making force to be deployed and to also defend that peace, once attained. That is the best we can do. Resolutions can be passed in the General Assembly. If these five permanent members - or only one of them - adopt a different view, the entire UN is paralysed.
We have had experience of unilateral action in Iraq, for instance. Even earlier today, bombs exploded in Iraq, killing more than 60 people. It is important that the UN must take responsibility. The Security Council is responsible. The Security Council was established precisely for this purpose, but, of course, now the agendas don't seem to converge. Our role and responsibilities should be to be the conscience and to continue pointing out that this carnage is unacceptable. It should not be allowed to happen.