Russia defences Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan unity plan for Syria as Turkey moves military hardware to the border.
Russia and other principal powers agreed to back plans by United Nations emissary Kofi Annan to end the bloodshed in Syria by forming a national unity government. According to an unnamed diplomat, Kofi Annan made clear that any settlement should also be irreversible, with clear transition steps and a settled timeline.
He said : ‘ These include establishing a transitional national unity government to create a neutral backdrop for transition. It could comprise present government members, opposition and others, but would need to exclude those whose continued participation or presence would jeopardise the transition’s credibility, or harm prospects for reconciliation and stability. ‘
Syria crisis: Kofi Annan proposes unity government
A convoy of 30 armoured vehicles left the Turkish coastal city of Iskenderun in the province of Hatay and headed towards the Syrian border. These machines will be evolved along the border. Kofi Annan’s project for a political transition tended at ending the sixty month conflict in Syria is one of the main topics that Russia, the other 4 permanent Security Council members and key players in the Middle East will discuss at a meeting in Geneva this week.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told that was a mistake to preclude Syria’s ally Iran and regional powers aimed at ending violence that has now left over 15 thousands dead. ‘ First of all, no agreed-upon projects exist, the work on the possible final document is going on, including a meeting of experts in Geneva. “I think that the fact that certain formulas, certain ideas proposed for the possible final document by certain countries are leaked to the media manifests an improper approach to diplomacy ‘ he added.
Kofi Annan’s proposal will be discussed at a meeting of the UN Action Group on Syria / Russia have agreed government plan for Syria
But not all politician are agreed with Russia’s decision. Some diplomatist said he is very sceptical of Russia’s acceptance of Kofi Annan’s proposal, which he propagated to the 5 permanent Security Council members this week, did not mean it has desolate Syrian President Bashar Hafez al-Assad.
Russia has repeatedly told it is not insisting that Bashar Hafez al-Assad must remain in power at all costs, but that any decision on whether or not he should step down should come from the Syrian people, not from outside pressure or military intervention, as happened last year in Libya.
The support for Kofi Annan’s plans came after a convoy of about thirty military vehicles, allowing trucks loaded with missile batteries, arrived in Turkey’s coastal town of Iskenderun and deployed near the Syrian border around 50 km away.
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