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Annan's Syria peace plan supported, but differences remain
Source: Xinhua |
June 2, 2012, Saturday
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Online Edition
Online Edition
ALTHOUGH the international community supports UN-Arab League joint envoy Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan on Syria, differences remain over how to solve the crisis.
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) yesterday adopted a resolution at a special session, requesting the UNHRC Commission of Inquiry on Syria to conduct a "comprehensive, independent and unfettered special inquiry" into the killings of 108 civilians in Houla, a town about 25 km northwest of Syria's central city of Homs, last week.
Forty-one members of the UNHRC voted in favor of the resolution, tabled by six countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. China, Russia and Cuba voted against the resolution, saying it is "unbalanced." Two countries did not vote.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay yesterday urged the international community to back up the Annan plan on Syria, calling for immediate investigations into the incident in Houla.
She warned that the situation in Syria might escalate into a "full-fledged conflict," urging that "we must do our utmost" to prevent "grave danger."
Annan, who was in Lebanon for a visit yesterday, urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to take bold actions on implementing his peace plan, expressing frustration over continued violence in Syria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday that they favored a political solution for Syria and agreed to work with other countries to prevent the crisis from worsening.
Speaking at a press conference after bilateral talks with Merkel in Berlin, Putin reiterated that Russia does not support any party in the ongoing conflict in Syria.
He said Russia wants to help Annan achieve "positive results" in Syria, and believes "a political solution could be found."
While in Paris, Putin and his French counterpart Francois Hollande yesterday stressed the necessity of fully implementing the UN resolution and Annan's plan.
The Russian president admitted the possibility of the breakout of a civil war in the Middle East country, but he said imposing sanctions on the Syrian government must be debated within the UN Security Council.
He said that consultation and more efforts are needed "to solve, via political means, the problems we faced."
"We propose to act in an accurate, balanced manner ... in Syria," he said.
For his part, Hollande refused to rule out military intervention in solving the crisis in Syria.
Recognizing "the risk of destabilization, the risks of civil war" in Syria, the French president insisted that Assad's departure was a "prerequisite for a political transition" in Syria.
Meanwhile, China urged all parties in Syria to stop all forms of violence and to start a political dialogue as quickly as possible.
Liu Zhenmin, permanent representative of the Permanent Mission to the UN Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, said China condemns the killings of civilians in Houla and supports a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Speaking at the special session on Syria of the UNHRC, he urged the Syrian government and opposition groups to fully implement the six-point plan proposed by Annan and related resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin also said yesterday that China is not acting as an "obstacle" for resolving the Syrian crisis, but is instead a "positive force" in promoting a political resolution to the issue.
China has been committed to safeguarding the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, as well as maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and standing up for the fundamental interests of the Syrian people, he added.
Liu said Syria has avoided a full-blown war thus far largely because of the efforts of the international community, including China. He reiterated that China has no expediency on the Syrian issue.
Following the Houla massacre of at least 49 children and 32 women, more than 13 Western countries have expelled Syrian diplomatic missions to protest the killings.
Syrian opposition groups said the tragedy was a result of artillery fire from government forces, while the government blamed terrorist and extremist groups for the carnage.
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) yesterday adopted a resolution at a special session, requesting the UNHRC Commission of Inquiry on Syria to conduct a "comprehensive, independent and unfettered special inquiry" into the killings of 108 civilians in Houla, a town about 25 km northwest of Syria's central city of Homs, last week.
Forty-one members of the UNHRC voted in favor of the resolution, tabled by six countries including the United States, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. China, Russia and Cuba voted against the resolution, saying it is "unbalanced." Two countries did not vote.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay yesterday urged the international community to back up the Annan plan on Syria, calling for immediate investigations into the incident in Houla.
She warned that the situation in Syria might escalate into a "full-fledged conflict," urging that "we must do our utmost" to prevent "grave danger."
Annan, who was in Lebanon for a visit yesterday, urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to take bold actions on implementing his peace plan, expressing frustration over continued violence in Syria.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday that they favored a political solution for Syria and agreed to work with other countries to prevent the crisis from worsening.
Speaking at a press conference after bilateral talks with Merkel in Berlin, Putin reiterated that Russia does not support any party in the ongoing conflict in Syria.
He said Russia wants to help Annan achieve "positive results" in Syria, and believes "a political solution could be found."
While in Paris, Putin and his French counterpart Francois Hollande yesterday stressed the necessity of fully implementing the UN resolution and Annan's plan.
The Russian president admitted the possibility of the breakout of a civil war in the Middle East country, but he said imposing sanctions on the Syrian government must be debated within the UN Security Council.
He said that consultation and more efforts are needed "to solve, via political means, the problems we faced."
"We propose to act in an accurate, balanced manner ... in Syria," he said.
For his part, Hollande refused to rule out military intervention in solving the crisis in Syria.
Recognizing "the risk of destabilization, the risks of civil war" in Syria, the French president insisted that Assad's departure was a "prerequisite for a political transition" in Syria.
Meanwhile, China urged all parties in Syria to stop all forms of violence and to start a political dialogue as quickly as possible.
Liu Zhenmin, permanent representative of the Permanent Mission to the UN Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, said China condemns the killings of civilians in Houla and supports a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Speaking at the special session on Syria of the UNHRC, he urged the Syrian government and opposition groups to fully implement the six-point plan proposed by Annan and related resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin also said yesterday that China is not acting as an "obstacle" for resolving the Syrian crisis, but is instead a "positive force" in promoting a political resolution to the issue.
China has been committed to safeguarding the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, as well as maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East and standing up for the fundamental interests of the Syrian people, he added.
Liu said Syria has avoided a full-blown war thus far largely because of the efforts of the international community, including China. He reiterated that China has no expediency on the Syrian issue.
Following the Houla massacre of at least 49 children and 32 women, more than 13 Western countries have expelled Syrian diplomatic missions to protest the killings.
Syrian opposition groups said the tragedy was a result of artillery fire from government forces, while the government blamed terrorist and extremist groups for the carnage.
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