UN looks to extend Syria mission

03 August 2012

The United Nations is seeking to extend its supervision mission in Syria following the resignation of joint UN/Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said that a successor would be appointed to continue Annan's work in the country after almost 18 months of violence which has left thousands of civilians dead and displaced millions.

Ban is also said to be consulting on how to extend the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria, which expires on 19 August.

"We have another 17 days to see whether something happens that will change the situation as was outlined by the resolution 2059," UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said yesterday.

"The Secretary-General's view is that the United Nations will have to somehow remain in Syria. And this is what he is consulting about, in order to make a proposal to the Security Council in due course."

Announcing his resignation on 2 August, Annan said that the bloodshed was continuing in Syria because of the government's "intransigence" in implementing his six-point peace plan, as well as the opposition's "escalating" military campaign.

The lack of agreement between the two sides was "compounded by the disunity of the international community", he added.

"At a time when we need - when the Syrian people desperately need - action, there continues to be finger-pointing and name-calling in the Security Council," he said.

"Without serious, purposeful and united international pressure, including from the powers of the region, it is impossible for me, or anyone, to compel the Syrian government in the first place, and also the opposition, to take the steps necessary to begin a political process."

"As an envoy, I can't want peace more than the protagonists, more than Security Council or the international community, for that matter."

Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the UK understood Annan's "frustration" with the security council vetoes and still supported his original peace plan.

"We continue to support fully the work of the UN Secretary General and Secretary-General of the Arab League in their efforts to bring peace to Syria," he said. "It is crucial that the international community now unites at the UN and shows that it is determined to hold this criminal regime to account."