syria-un-20120711 1

JOINT SPECIAL ENVOY OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES FOR SYRIA KOFI A. ANNAN BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN SYRIA New York, 11 July 2012 Mr. President, Members of the Council, 1 Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today. This is an important moment to take stock of where we are and where we must go. Let me also join Mr. Ladsous in thanking troop contributors and expressing my gratitude to the men and women serving under General Mood. 1 I reported to you a month ago that the six-point plan and Security Council resolutions 2042 and 2043 were not being implemented – as they must. I recalled in this context the failure of President Assad to take the bold steps necessary to implement the six-point plan, and noted the intensification of violence from both the Government and the armed opposition. I called for joint and sustained pressure by the Council on the parties, and consequences for non-compliance. The Secretary-General’s report before you carries the same message. 1 Since I last briefed you, the situation has gone from bad to worse. Mr Ladsous’ briefing today confirms that the violence in Syria continues to escalate, with intensified government campaigns to root out opposition strongholds, and civilians being killed and injured in appalling numbers. Despite repeated promises to comply with its obligation to cease the use of heavy weapons, the government has increased its operations -- with shelling, mechanized infantry and the use of helicopter gunships, including in population centres. Opposition elements have also intensified their attacks against government forces and installations. At least several hundred thousand people are displaced, and many civilians are trapped in combat zones, not receiving medical care or humanitarian aid. Battles continue to rage through city after city. Whole neighborhoods have been shelled into ruins. Entire families have been massacred. Thousands have been detained or disappeared without a trace and reportedly tortured. We have not seen substantial releases of detainees. Peaceful demonstrators are not able to assemble without fear, and are reportedly violently repressed when they do gather in protest. Journalists are still unable to access and move around the country without restriction. The assaults on human dignity must end, those responsible must be held to account, and the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people must be addressed. Mr President, 1 A group of influential states and organizations, gravely concerned at the situation, convened for the first time under my chairmanship on 30 June in Geneva – not as a talk shop, but as an Action Group on Syria. I thank those who participated, and those who were not there but who are ready to help. For the first time, the international community has not only urged a renewed effort to stop the violence – they have also laid out a clear path for change in Syria. We must work in parallel on efforts to ensure a cessation of violence and human rights abuses and comprehensive six point plan implementation, but also on a path for political transition that ca