With the ongoing violence in Syria, the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian Crisis Kofi Annan today said the UN observer mission is possibly the only remaining chance to stabilize the war-torn country.
Mr. Annan stressed today that the ongoing levels of violence and human rights abuses in the Middle Eastern country are unacceptable.
However, Mr. Annan noted there has been some decrease in the military activities but there are still serious violations in the cessation of violence that was agreed.
“The levels of violence and abuses are unacceptable.” – Mr. Annan
Mr. Annan reported that government troops and armour are still present, though in smaller formations.
He noted that there have been worrying episodes of violence by the Government but the UN has seen attacks against government forces, troops and installations as well.
And there has been a spate of bombings which create insecurity among the civilian population, he added.
He stressed that it is clear that the presence of the observers serving with the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) has had a calming effect in some situations.
“I believe that the UN Supervision Mission is possibly the only remaining chance to stabilize the country.” – Mr. Annan
He noted that there is a profound concern that the country could otherwise descend into full civil war and the implications of that are quite frightening.
Mr. Annan hopes that both the Government and all components of the opposition understand the opportunity to bring the situation under control.
“The violence must stop and a credible political process must begin for the sake of the Syrian people.” -Mr. Annan
On April this year, UN Security Council authorized a UN supervision mission in Syria, charged with monitoring compliance with the full set of commitments and obligations laid out in Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan’s Six-Point Plan.
The “United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS)is comprised of an initial deployment of up to 300 unarmed military observers as well as an appropriate civilian component.”
Since the adoption of resolution 2042 last week, in which the Council unanimously called on the Syrian government to honor all its obligations, including a sustained cessation of violence.
However, the regime has unleashed yet another wave of horrific violence against its own people resulting in the deaths of scores of Syrians daily.
Reports say the government’s use of shelling and heavy weaponry, in particular in Homs, has reached levels that surpass those before the ceasefire.
Syrian government troops and armor have not been withdrawn from cities and returned to barracks.
Protesters are still being intimidated and murdered by government forces.
The status of thousands of detainees remains unclear.
Reports say precious little progress had been made on the issue of humanitarian access, with an estimated one million civilians still in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
The violence in Syria, which began in March 2011 as a protest movement similar to those witnessed across the Middle East and North Africa, has claimed over 9,000 lives, mostly civilians, and displaced tens of thousands.
