The United Nations has finally set aside months of bitter wrangling to present a joint demand to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, urging him to accept a peace initiative.
Syrian rebels step on a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Assad in Idlib province, Syria Photo: AP
By Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent
6:01PM GMT 21 Mar 2012
Full text of UN Security Council statement on Syria
The plan would see him withdrawing troops from the street and launching negotiations with the opposition.
The UN presidential statement, which has less weight than a security council resolution but the moral authority of unanimity among its members, calls on the Assad regime to accept the peace plan put forward by the special envoy, Kofi Annan.
It is a partial climb-down by the West, led by the United States, Britain and France, which has had to give up for the time being attempts to put pressure on Mr Assad to quit in the face of vetoes by Russia and China.
But they managed to persuade Moscow to allow a more general reference to "political transition", which one diplomat called their "red line".
Related Articles
_ Text of UN Security Council statement on Syria - 21 Mar 2012
_ UN agrees statement on Assad - 21 Mar 2012
_ Islamists claim Syria bombs were to 'avenge Sunnis' - 21 Mar 2012
_ Damascus suburbs come under renewed attack - 21 Mar 2012
_ Assad nicknamed 'duck' by wife - 20 Mar 2012
_ Study details kidnap by rebels - 20 Mar 2012
Mr Annan's six-point proposal, presented to the UN last week, calls for an "inclusive political process", an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of forces by both sides, humanitarian aid deliveries, a release of prisoners, freedom of movement for journalists, and respect for freedom of association and demonstration.
Omitted is any mention of elections or a transfer of power, both demanded by an Arab League proposal which has been the West's working blueprint so far.
Both pro- and anti-Assad factions in the security council will boast that the finding of common ground is a success.
"I strongly welcome the security council's full and unanimous support for the work of Kofi Annan as joint UN-Arab League envoy," said William Hague, the Foreign Secretary. "I urge the Syrian authorities to take this chance to stop the bloodshed."
But the fact that the West has had to back off from a regime change that would end the rule of a key ally of Iran and of militant groups like Hamas and Hizbollah shows the impasse it had reached.
Both the United States and its western allies have proved reluctant to become closely involved militarily, even to the extent of supplying arms to the rebels or encouraging their friends in the Middle East to do so.
"The statement is obviously watered down," said Amr al-Azm, a Syrian political analyst in exile in America. "It is clear that the Americans are keen on getting something moving on the diplomatic side because nothing else is happening for them."
But Russia too has had to make concessions. One Western diplomat pointed to the fact that despite initial Russian opposition the resolution refers to Mr Annan's role not only as a UN but also an Arab League envoy, hinting that the League's plan for Mr Assad to hand over powers to his vice-president is still technically alive.
It will also be aware that if Mr Assad implements the plan and withdraws troops, the chances are that widespread demonstrations will put his authority under renewed threat. If he does not, continued support for him would isolate Moscow even further diplomatically.
The Syrian opposition is in any case now preparing for a long-drawn out conflict. Even if Mr Assad agrees to negotiations, none of the main rebel groups inside the country or those who represent them outside have so far countenanced the possibility of talks unless he indicates he is willing to step down.
Both sides have become further entrenched since his campaign to retake major rebel-held areas by sustained artillery bombardment began to show signs of success. Yesterday his troops shelled Khaldiyah, a suburb of Homs, for the second day, and while there were also heavy clashes in the outskirts of Damascus.
Chân thành cám ơn Quý Anh Chị ghé thăm "conbenho Nguyễn Hoài Trang Blog"
Xin được lắng nghe ý kiến chia sẻ của Quý Anh Chị trực tiếp tại Diễn Đàn Paltalk: 1Latdo Tapdoan Vietgian CSVN Phanquoc Bannuoc .
Kính chúc Sức Khỏe Quý Anh Chị .
conbenho
Tiểu Muội quantu
Nguyễn Hoài Trang
22032012
___________
CSVN là TỘI ÁC
Bao che, dung dưỡng TỘI ÁC là đồng lõa với TỘI ÁC
No comments:
Post a Comment