China supports Annan's peace plan to halt bloodshed in Syria
Source: Agencies |
March 28, 2012, Wednesday
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UN envoy Kofi Annan said yesterday he has received the backing of both Syria and China for his plan for a negotiated end to the bloody Syrian conflict.
Annan believes Syria's acceptance of the peace plan is an important first step which now needs to be immediately implemented, his spokesman said.
A Paris-based member of the opposition Syrian National Council said it welcomes the Syrian government's decision.
"We hope that we can move toward a peace process," Bassma Kodmani said.
Annan is proposing a six-point plan that includes a cease-fire by the Syrian government, a daily two-hour halt to fighting to evacuate the injured, and Syrian-led political talks to address the concerns of the Syrian people.
Annan, who is also an envoy for the Arab League, told reporters after meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing yesterday that he had received a "positive" response from Syria as well as support from China. He said he received a similar commitment from Russia over the weekend.
"We've had very good discussions about the situation in Syria. And they have offered me their full support," Annan said after the meeting with Wen.
Wen said work on a solution to the crisis is at a "critical juncture," adding that China backed Annan's mediation efforts.
The support from China and Russia may have been important in nudging Syria on the plan, which has been endorsed by the UN Security Council in a nonbinding presidential statement.
Annan views Syria's acceptance of the plan "as an important initial step that could bring an end to the violence and the bloodshed, provide aid to the suffering, and create an environment conducive to a political dialogue that would fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people," Annan spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said in a statement yesterday.
Annan "stressed that implementation will be key, not only for the Syrian people, who are caught in the middle of this tragedy, but also for the region and the international community as a whole," Fawzi said.
About 60 countries, including the United States, are to attend a "Friends of the Syrian People" conference in Istanbul on Sunday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Monday that China was invited but would not attend.
Washington and many of its allies have said Assad has lost all legitimacy and must step down. China says the crisis needs to be resolved through talks.
The conference in Istanbul comes as Turkey edges closer to setting up a buffer zone in Syria to protect civilians. Turkish officials have long been hesitant about the idea, but a surge of refugees from Syria is forcing a rethink.
Annan believes Syria's acceptance of the peace plan is an important first step which now needs to be immediately implemented, his spokesman said.
A Paris-based member of the opposition Syrian National Council said it welcomes the Syrian government's decision.
"We hope that we can move toward a peace process," Bassma Kodmani said.
Annan is proposing a six-point plan that includes a cease-fire by the Syrian government, a daily two-hour halt to fighting to evacuate the injured, and Syrian-led political talks to address the concerns of the Syrian people.
Annan, who is also an envoy for the Arab League, told reporters after meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing yesterday that he had received a "positive" response from Syria as well as support from China. He said he received a similar commitment from Russia over the weekend.
"We've had very good discussions about the situation in Syria. And they have offered me their full support," Annan said after the meeting with Wen.
Wen said work on a solution to the crisis is at a "critical juncture," adding that China backed Annan's mediation efforts.
The support from China and Russia may have been important in nudging Syria on the plan, which has been endorsed by the UN Security Council in a nonbinding presidential statement.
Annan views Syria's acceptance of the plan "as an important initial step that could bring an end to the violence and the bloodshed, provide aid to the suffering, and create an environment conducive to a political dialogue that would fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people," Annan spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said in a statement yesterday.
Annan "stressed that implementation will be key, not only for the Syrian people, who are caught in the middle of this tragedy, but also for the region and the international community as a whole," Fawzi said.
About 60 countries, including the United States, are to attend a "Friends of the Syrian People" conference in Istanbul on Sunday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Monday that China was invited but would not attend.
Washington and many of its allies have said Assad has lost all legitimacy and must step down. China says the crisis needs to be resolved through talks.
The conference in Istanbul comes as Turkey edges closer to setting up a buffer zone in Syria to protect civilians. Turkish officials have long been hesitant about the idea, but a surge of refugees from Syria is forcing a rethink.
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