The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon on Thursday expressed concern that bloodshed? continued in Syria in spite of? the government’s acceptance of proposals by the UN-Arab Leagues? Special Envoy, Kofi Annan.
Addressing the General Assembly on the situation in Syria, Ban urged the international community to support the envoy’s initiatives to end the violence.
“It is the responsibility now of the Syrian authorities to deliver on what they have promised, and to implement fully and unconditionally all the commitments they have given to Joint Special Envoy Annan,” he said.
Ban appealed to Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, his government and all concerned to show “vision and leadership.”
The UN scribe also urged the opposition to be ready to cease all violence, as outlined in Annan’s? plan which sought to stop the violence and the killing as well as give access to humanitarian agencies and the? release of detainees.
“Beyond a cessation of violence, it is critical to move fast on the political process. A pause in hostilities will not hold without a political horizon.
?“In this regard, the Syrian opposition is taking steps to present itself as a coherent body. This will be important for dialogue. I hope we can launch an inclusive and genuine process very soon,” Ban stated.
Briefing the Assembly on the progress of his mission through a video conference, Annan said the violence in Syria could not be addressed through the means of a traditional observer mission deployed between two armies.
He disclosed that a UN team had arrived in Syria to start technical preparations for the potential deployment of observers to monitor a cessation of armed violence and the full implementation of his plan.
The envoy said the situation in Syria was fluid and that there was no established frontline and peace would not be consolidated without a credible political process.
“What we would need on the ground is a small, nimble United Nations presence. It would need to be deployed quickly with a broad and flexible mandate.
“Its freedom of movement throughout the country and security must be assured. It should engage all relevant parties.
“It should constantly and rapidly observe, establish and assess facts and conditions on the ground in an objective manner,”
The UN estimated that more than 8,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and tens of thousands displaced since the uprising began in March, 2011.
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