CHINA: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moualem says that a U.N. truce observer force would not need more than 250 monitors nor independent air support

Record ID: 280702

  • Title: CHINA: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moualem says that a U.N. truce observer force would not need more than 250 monitors nor independent air support
  • Date: 19th April 2012
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (APRIL 18, 2012) (REUTERS) POLICE CAR PARKED OUTSIDE SYRIAN EMBASSY SECURITY GUARD STANDING OUTSIDE SYRIAN EMBASSY SIGN READING EMBASSY OF THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WALID AL-MOUALEM WALKING INTO CONFERENCE ROOM SYRIAN NATIONAL FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WALID AL-MOUALEM, SAYING: "And for that reason, I b
  • Embargoed: 4th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVA4NLXRQS4UCARLC08FSQTERPHZ
  • Story Text: Syria said on Wednesday (April 18) that a U.N. truce observer force would not need more than 250 monitors nor independent air support, challenging U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's assessment of what was needed for the operation.
    The U.N.'s Ban says more monitors are needed for credible supervision of the truce in a country the size of Syria in the 13th month of a conflict marked by extreme violence and over 10,000 deaths.
    "And for that reason, I believe 250 (international observers) is a logical number," said Moualem.
    Moualem said he did not know why more observers would be needed, and said that the U.N. could use Syrian aircraft if needed.
    "We do not know why they (the U.N.) want to use airplanes. However, if there is a need for this, Syria is willing to put its airforce under the use of the observers," he said.
    Moualem said the Syrian government respects international envoy Kofi Annan's plan, while armed rebel groups do not.
    "First of all, what is really happening is, this Syrian government respects Annan's plan, but the armed rebels don't respect the plan. Their goal is to ruin the Annan plan and hold Syria responsible for it failing to reach what Clinton said about foreign military intervention. But I ask, did NATO report on the numbers of deaths after their intervention in Libya? There are reports saying there was more than 100,000 killed and 100,000 have been injured and disfigured due to the NATO air strikes. Is that what the Arabs want repeated in Syria? Those who can see understand that Annan's plan is implemented by the Syrian government but the Syrian government has to stand to fight these armed groups to stop them from derailing Annan's plan," he said.
    The 15-nation United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Saturday (April 14) to authorise an initial deployment of up to 30 unarmed observers.
    The West has shown no desire to intervene militarily or push for the sort of robust peacekeeping mission that might require 50,000 troops or more.
    Syria's powerful friends on the Security Council, Russia and China, have made clear they would block a U.N. mandate to use force. They are likely to back Damascus as the terms of the mission are thrashed out later this week.
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