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Syria signs agreement over Arab observers
Source: Agencies |
December 20, 2011, Tuesday
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SYRIA signed an Arab League initiative yesterday that will allow Arab observers into the country as part of peace deal that aims to end the nation's increasingly bloody 9-month-old crisis, Syria's foreign minister said.
Syria appears to prefer to give Arabs a chance to end a crisis that has grown increasingly violent, fueling fears that the country could slip into civil war.
"The signing of the protocol is the beginning of cooperation between us and the Arab League and we will welcome the Arab League observers," Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem told reporters in Damascus.
He said that the observers will have a one-month mandate that can be extended by another month if both sides agree. The observers will be "free" in their movements and "under the protection of the Syrian government," he said, but will not be allowed to visit sensitive military sites.
The League had given Syria until Wednesday to sign the agreement, warning that if Damascus did not, the League would likely turn to the UN Security Council for action to try to end the President Bashar Assad's crackdown on the popular uprising that the UN says has killed at least 5,000 people.
The deal was signed at the League's Cairo headquarters after the 22-member bloc accepted amendments demanded by Syria, al-Moallem said.
Al-Moallem said Syria will deal with the mission with "all seriousness, professionalism and objectivity," and coordinate "on a daily basis" with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby.
The revolt began in mid-March as peaceful protesters emboldened by uprisings across the Arab world took to the streets to demand an end to the Assad family's more than 40-year rule. But there has been an escalation in armed clashes, raising concerns the country of 22 million is slipping toward civil war.
The government claims armed gangs and terrorists are behind the uprising.
Al-Moallem sought to reinforce that line yesterday, saying "the observers will come to see with their own eyes that there are armed terrorist groups that are doing sabotage and killing people."
The Arab League plan calls for Syria to halt its crackdown, hold talks with the opposition and allow in Arab observers to ensure compliance to the deal. It does not call for foreign military intervention, as in Libya.
The League already has suspended Syria's membership and imposed sanctions.
Asked if Arab sanctions would be lifted, al-Moallem said: "The Arabs imposed these sanctions, and they should be lifted, but we will leave it up to them and their concern for the Syrian people if they are honest about it."
Syria appears to prefer to give Arabs a chance to end a crisis that has grown increasingly violent, fueling fears that the country could slip into civil war.
"The signing of the protocol is the beginning of cooperation between us and the Arab League and we will welcome the Arab League observers," Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem told reporters in Damascus.
He said that the observers will have a one-month mandate that can be extended by another month if both sides agree. The observers will be "free" in their movements and "under the protection of the Syrian government," he said, but will not be allowed to visit sensitive military sites.
The League had given Syria until Wednesday to sign the agreement, warning that if Damascus did not, the League would likely turn to the UN Security Council for action to try to end the President Bashar Assad's crackdown on the popular uprising that the UN says has killed at least 5,000 people.
The deal was signed at the League's Cairo headquarters after the 22-member bloc accepted amendments demanded by Syria, al-Moallem said.
Al-Moallem said Syria will deal with the mission with "all seriousness, professionalism and objectivity," and coordinate "on a daily basis" with Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby.
The revolt began in mid-March as peaceful protesters emboldened by uprisings across the Arab world took to the streets to demand an end to the Assad family's more than 40-year rule. But there has been an escalation in armed clashes, raising concerns the country of 22 million is slipping toward civil war.
The government claims armed gangs and terrorists are behind the uprising.
Al-Moallem sought to reinforce that line yesterday, saying "the observers will come to see with their own eyes that there are armed terrorist groups that are doing sabotage and killing people."
The Arab League plan calls for Syria to halt its crackdown, hold talks with the opposition and allow in Arab observers to ensure compliance to the deal. It does not call for foreign military intervention, as in Libya.
The League already has suspended Syria's membership and imposed sanctions.
Asked if Arab sanctions would be lifted, al-Moallem said: "The Arabs imposed these sanctions, and they should be lifted, but we will leave it up to them and their concern for the Syrian people if they are honest about it."
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