UNITED NATIONS (TURKISH JOURNAL)
United Nations approved an international observers into Syria.
Russia and China finally voted ”yes” for new Syrian resolution of United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Resolution adopted by unanimously.
UNSC new resolution is authorizing the deployment of an advance team of up to 30 international observers (most of them recruited from other UN missions in the region) to Syria to oversee the ceasefire there. It is the first step in a two-stage process that will lead to the establishment of a full-fledged U.N. monitoring mission staffed with about 250 monitors. According to Britain’s UN Permanent Representative Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, 25 monitors have already been selected to participate in the mission and that the monitors should begin arriving in Damascus within 24 hours.
The new UNSC resolution calls on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to present the council with a detailed blueprint for the monitoring mission by Wednesday.
UNSC is expected to pass another resolution authorizing the new mission.
The resolution beyond the Annan Peace Plan
Although The Annan plan requires Syria to begin its pullbacks of military assets from key cities, The Security Council Resolution 2042 on Syria goes beyond The Annan Peace Plan by pressing Syria to return its security forces and heavy weapons to the barracks.
U.S. Ambassador Rice: ”We are under no illusion”
U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice welcomed to the Security Council Resolution 2042 on Syria but she said that; ”We are under no illusion”.
Ambassador Rice continued: ”It’s important to remember how this began. For months, the Syrian people protested peacefully, in pursuit of their basic rights and universal democratic aspirations. Only after they were met with violent retribution did they respond in self-defense. And even as the United States welcomes today’s action by the Security Council, we’re under no illusions. Just this morning, Syrian forces resumed their brutal shelling of Homs and opened fire on mourners in Aleppo, raising renewed doubts about the sincerity of the regime’s commitment to a ceasefire. There is an important opportunity to stop the violence and the bloodshed and begin a transition towards a stable and democratic Syria. The burden is now on the Syrian regime to seize it.”
Turkey welcomes to the resolution: ”An initial step in the right direction”
Turkish Ambassador to the United Nations Ertugrul Apakan delivered Turkey’s remarks to UN journalists after The Security Council meeting.
Turkey’s UN Permanent Representative Ambassador Apakan talked about the new resolution at the UN Security Council Stakeout. Ambassador Apakan said that ”After more than a year long tragic events resulting in almost 10,000 loss of lives, we welcome Council’s resolution today, as an initial step in the right direction. The Council finally spoke with one voice.”
Ambassador Apakan continued;
”· It is important that, the Council today has decided to dispatch, despite its small number, an advance team of up to 30 military observers. In this supervision mission, monitoring and compliance will be two key issues. Turkey will closely follow developments on the field.
· Turkey will also closely follow, as reaffirmed by the Council in its call for the urgent, comprehensive and immediate implementation of all elements of the Joint Envoy’s 6 point plan.
· At the same time, it is important that, the Council has reiterated its call to allow immediate, full and unimpeded access of humanitarian assistance.
· We will continue to stand by the brotherly people of Syria in their legitimate and righteous aspirations for a pluralistic, democratic society based on respect for human rights. ”
Bashar al-Jaafari: Syria will “spare no effort to guarantee the success” of Annan’s peace plan
Permanent Representative to Suriye Ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari told UNSC that his government will “spare no effort to guarantee the success” of Annan’s peace plan and it supports the plan for a UN monitoring mission as long as it does not violate Syrian sovereignty.
Al-Jaafari also claimed that Syrian opposition elements have been responsible for the violations of the cease-fire.
