Special Envoy of the UN and the Arab League for Syria, Kofi Annan, quitting this position after the expiration of its mandate on August 31, published today in the British newspaper Financial Times an article "My departing advice on how to save Syria," in which he gives the final recommendations on how to solve the problem, RIA Novosti reported.
The fact that Annan has refused to renew his mandate expiring on 31 August, became known on Thursday. On the same day, speaking in Geneva, he said that he did not receive support that his mission deserved. Annan said that his work as special envoy was made it difficult because of the split of the international community that has been unable to agree on the Syrian issue.
In his article, Annan expressed confidence that Syria could still be saved from a national catastrophe, but it requires strong political will of the several states, and, above all, of the permanent members of UN Security Council and the neighboring countries of Syria.
“For Russia, China and Iran this means they must take concerted efforts to persuade Syria’s leadership to change course and embrace a political transition, realising the current government has lost all legitimacy. A first move by the government is vital, as its intransigence and refusal to implement the six-point peace plan has been the greatest obstacle to any peaceful political process, ensuring the distrust of the opposition in proposals for a negotiated transition,” wrote Annan.
“For the US, UK, France, Turkey Saudi Arabia and Qatar this means pressing the opposition to embrace a fully inclusive political process – that will include communities and institutions currently associated with the government. This also means recognising that the future of Syria rises and falls on more than the fate of just one man”, he continued.
He added that Syrian President Bashar Assad has to leave his post in order to regulate the conflict.
The conflict in Syria lasts from March 2011; according to the UN, 16,000 people became its victims. Western countries and some Arab countries through the UN Security Council sought the withdrawal of President Bashar al-Assad, believing that this will stop the violence. Russia and China fear that external intervention in the situation in Syria and the loss of statehood will lead to a widening of the conflict.
