SYRIA: International envoy Kofi Annan says actions should be taken now in order to implement the six-point plan for Syria

Record ID: 280881

  • Title: SYRIA: International envoy Kofi Annan says actions should be taken now in order to implement the six-point plan for Syria
  • Date: 30th May 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (MAY 29, 2012) (REUTERS) INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR, KOFI ANNAN, WITH CHIEF OF THE U.N. MONITORING MISSION, MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT MOOD KOFI ANNAN WALKING UP TO STAGE U.N. FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR, KOFI ANNAN, SAYING: "Words are wonderful but action is better. What is important is to demonstrate through action a real commitment to th
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVA7SPWE0A8S9J3WJSKOW2QGSJ17
  • Story Text: International envoy Kofi Annan said on Tuesday (May 29) that Syria, suffering from persistent killings and abuses, was at a "tipping point" and he had appealed to President Bashar al-Assad to act immediately to halt the violence.
    "Words are wonderful but action is better. What is important is to demonstrate through action a real commitment to the plan. And this is what the international community is asking for now - action, not words," Annan told a news conference after his meeting with Assad.
    Annan said that in his talks with the Syrian leader in Damascus he "conveyed in frank terms the grave concern of the international community about the violence in Syria, including the recent shocking events in Houla."
    He said Assad had also condemned the killings in Houla, where 108 people were massacred on Friday, almost half of them children. Assad's government has denied any role and blamed Islamist "terrorists".
    He gave no indication of any breakthrough in his two hours of talks with the Syrian leader, who is trying to crush a 14-month-old uprising against his rule which began with peaceful protests but has developed into an armed insurgency.
    The joint U.N./Arab League envoy said he appealed to Assad for "bold steps now - not tomorrow, now," towards implementing his six-point plan, one part of which was an April 12 ceasefire which has failed to take hold.
    Asked if any timetable had been agreed for implementing steps to quell the violence, Annan said he made clear that "this is not an open-ended process."
    "The time is coming, sooner rather than later, when the international community will need to make an assessment as to how things are going and what further action or activities may be necessary," he said.
    Western states, which hold Assad's forces responsible for the Houla killings and the deaths of more than 9,000 people since March last year, have imposed economic sanctions on Syria.
    On Tuesday many of them expelled Syrian diplomats in a coordinated move to escalate pressure on Assad.
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