World Powers Agree on Tentative Syria Peace Plan…But Not on What to Do With Assad
- Posted on June 30, 2012 at 3:26pm by
Erica Ritz
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Kofi Annan and Basher al-Assad discuss the future of Syria on May 29, 2012 (Photo: AP/SANA)
(The Blaze/AP) — An international conference on Saturday accepted a U.N.-brokered peace plan for Syria, but left open the key question of whether the country’s president could be part of a transitional government.
The U.S. backed away from insisting that the plan explicitly exclude President Bashar Assad from any role in a new government, hoping the concession would encourage Russia to put greater pressure on its longtime ally to end the violent crackdown that the opposition says has claimed over 14,000 lives.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted that Assad would still have to go, saying it is now “incumbent on Russia and China to show Assad the writing on the wall.”
“There is a credible alternative to the Assad regime,” she said. “What we have done here is to strip away the fiction that he and those with blood on their hands can stay in power.”
AP has video of Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday:
Moscow had refused to back a provision that would call for Assad to step aside, insisting that outsiders cannot order a political solution for Syria and accusing the West of ignoring the darker side of the Syrian opposition. The opposition has made clear it would not take part in a government in which Assad still held power.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov underlined that the plan does not require Assad’s ouster, saying there is “no attempt in the document to impose on the Syrian people any type of transitional process.”
More than a year into the uprising, Syria’s opposition is still struggling to overcome infighting and inexperience, preventing the movement from gaining the traction it needs to instill confidence in its ability to govern.
The U.N. plan calls for establishing a transitional government of national unity, with full executive powers, that could include members of Assad’s government and the opposition and other groups. It would oversee the drafting of a new constitution and elections.
Syria envoy Kofi Annan said following talks that “it is for the people of Syria to come to a political agreement.”
Kofi Annan, Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League for Syria, arrives for a meeting of the Action Group for Syria at the European headquarters of the United Nations June 30, 2012 (Photo: AP)
“I will doubt that the Syrians who have fought so hard to have independence … will select people with blood on their hands to lead them,” he said.
The envoy had earlier warned the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States – that if they fail to act at the talks hosted by the United Nations at its European headquarters in Geneva, they face an international crisis of “grave severity” that could spark violence across the region and provide a new front for terrorism.
“History is a somber judge and it will judge us all harshly, if we prove incapable of taking the right path today,” he said.
Syria, verging on a full-blown civil war, has endured a particularly bloody week, with up to 125 people reported killed nationwide on Thursday alone.
The opposition’s divisions are tied to issues at the heart of the revolution: Whether to seek dialogue with the regime and what ideology should guide a post-Assad Syria.
Rami Abdul-Rahman, director of the Britain based Syrian observatory for human rights, said following the agreement that “no member of the Syrian opposition will accept to be part of a transitional government while Assad is still in power.”
“Assad’s staying in power will mean the continuation of the bloodshed in Syria,” he said.
Unlike Libya’s National Transitional Council, which brought together most factions fighting Gadhafi’s regime and was quickly recognized by much of the international community, Syria’s opposition has no leadership on the ground.
Regime opponents in Syria are a diverse group, representing the country’s ideological, sectarian and generational divide. They include dissidents who spent years in prison, tech-savvy activists in their 20s, former Marxists, Islamists and Paris-based intellectuals.
Communication between those abroad and those in the country is extremely difficult. Political activists in Syria are routinely rounded up and imprisoned. Many have gone into hiding, communicating only through Skype using fake names, and the country is largely sealed off to exiled dissidents and foreign journalists.
International tensions also heightened last week after Syria shot down a Turkish warplane, leading to Turkey setting up anti-aircraft guns on its border with its neighbor.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague noted that U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told diplomats a U.N. monitoring mission in Syria would have to be pulled back if no diplomatic solution is found.
Major-General Robert Mood, from Norway head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria and Chief Military Observer, right, talks to an unidentified perspon as he arrives for a meeting of the Action Group for Syria at the European headquarters of the United Nations, UN, in Geneva, Switzerland (Photo: AP)
“We haven’t reached agreement in advance with Russia and China – that remains very difficult. I don’t know if it will be possible to do so. In the interest of saving thousands of lives of our international responsibilities, we will try to do so,” Hague told reporters. “It’s been always been our view, of course, that a stable future for Syria, a real political process, means Assad leaving power.”
The head of the struggling U.N. observer mission, Norwegian Maj. Gen. Robert Mood, has described the 300 monitors approved by the U.N. Security Council to enforce a failed April cease-fire as being largely confined to bureaucratic tasks and calling Syrians by phone because of the dangers on the ground. Their mandate expires on July 20.
“Ultimately, we want to stop the bloodshed in Syria. If that comes through political dialogue, we are willing to do that,” said Khalid Saleh, a spokesman for the Syrian National Council, a coalition of Syrian opposition groups based in Istanbul, Turkey. “We are not willing to negotiate (with) Mr. Assad and those who have murdered Syrians. We are not going to negotiate unless they leave Syria.”
Clinton said Thursday in Riga, Latvia, that all participants in the Geneva meeting, including Russia, were on board with the transition plan. She told reporters that the invitations made clear that representatives “were coming on the basis of (Annan’s) transition plan.”
The United Nations says violence in the country has worsened since a cease-fire deal in April, and the bloodshed appears to be taking on dangerous sectarian overtones, with growing numbers of Syrians targeted on account of their religion. The increasing militarization of both sides in the conflict has Syria heading toward civil war.
——
Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
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wntsmallgov
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 5:10amBiblical events happening. It is said the Anti Christ will wear a blue turbine. Could it be that a politician from that area appointed by the UN (which wear blue barrets), COULD THIS BE THE START OF THE END?
Report Post »rahgoo
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:50amPompous Alawite generals who were living large since the 60s are becoming disillusioned with Assad. They are fearful of the Sunni and Islamic wrath that will occur if their leader Assad is replaced with a Jihadist. They surely will be beheaded or maimed and the rest turned into beggars searching the dumpsters for scraps of food. Such is the punishment under Sharia Law for infidelity to the scriptures.
Report Post »Passerby
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 10:51amFor 1300 years the Muslims persecuted the Alawites. Killed tens of thousands at a time. All kinds of quotes from respected Muslim writers saying to kill them first before anyone else.
And that was when the Nusayris, (actually they are the remnants of the Phoenicians), were taking abuse, not giving it.
And they can’t count on Iran, Shiites never considered them Muslim either. The gangsters in Iran just find it convenient to pretend. The instant they are no longer useful to Iran, pffft.
They say it’s unthinkable to partition the country, opening Pandora’s Box, the Kurds etc. would instantly declare their own country and oh my goodness that’s unthinkable to everyone except the Kurds.
But what is the alternative? Can the Alawites/Nusayris/Phoenicians kill all the Muslims in Syria? Probably. Would everyone stand by and watch it?
Report Post »piper60
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 6:57amThe U.N. needs to be disbanded, or at least be forced to move its headquarters off of U.S. soil. They are so inept and anti-American it’s ridiculous.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 1:15pmWe should eliminate all UN funding and charge them rent and security services, revoke diplomatic immunity for UN staff.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:23amWho is this woman, Hillary Clinton, to talk about “those with blood on their hands” when she blatantly gave her “full support” to KLA Albanian mafia terrorist Hashim Thaci, PM of seized Kosovo, on April 4, 2012? Thanks to her and her hubby Kosovo has now become a terrorist state.
These politicians are such hypocrites.
Not to mention her laughing response to thug Gadhafi being dragged out on the streets and sodomized and shot by the al Qaeda thugs there in Libya. I’m sure Gadhafi is going to be replaced by someone alot better though. Just like what happened in Egypt with this Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Morsi thug who is now calling for a Caliphate and going to tax the Christian Copts for being Christians and living in their own country of origin. The Copts were the orginal Egyptians. It was the Islamists who plundered and occupied Egypt.
But, of course, I’m sure Hillary Clinton and her EU-UN-NATO friends are going to be replacing Assad with someone alot better. Does she know that it’s Turkey that is causing most of the violence there? Turkey wants to control the pipeline, and wants to be head of the Caliphate. Yes. The same Turkey who is now allying with the head of the Cobra, Iran.
And seeing former UN Secretary Kofi Annan really warms my heart. Shouldn’t he be behind bars for his part in the Oil for Food scandal? But, of course, these guys never get what‘s coming to them because they’re all part of the global corruption and mass murder, and the cause o
Report Post »Passerby
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 6:43amAre you sure he’s going to tax the Coptics?
Report Post »Passerby
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 7:04amAs for Kosovo, you forget those Kosovar divisions that fought by our sides in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Granted, it’s the minimum of what honor would demand, after saving them from squatting in their own excrement in cattle pens. But the benefit of the Muslims fighting by our sides, once again pointing out how we saved the only Muslims in Europe, was priceless.
Them destroying all those ancient Christian churches in Kosovo after they took over? Well, probably been sticking in their craw for centuries, nothing new.
Report Post »wntsmallgov
Posted on July 2, 2012 at 5:41amHence the real problem. As long as we allow our government to bow down to the UN (or any other nation like obama does) we will not be able to clean up our own government. IF we try to disobey they will carve America up in the 10 zones that we have addopted under the UN agenda 21. FEMA would become the new government under such a break up. Regional Governers would not answer to anybody but the President (unless he goes against the UN) then the zones would answer to FEMA.
Report Post »IT is a web of lies with some truths. The idea is that we may not be able to stop it unless we disband the DHS, EPA, draw out of the World banks, WTO and stop giving money to the UN.
It is all a scam. AMMO UP people
lukerw
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:14pmA Peace Plan… agreed to by Nations that are not Peaceful… concerning Another Nation… is a PLOT!
Report Post »Passerby
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 7:18amNo nations are peaceful. Countries are defined by military power.
So, all peace plans are a plot?
Nah, the Muslims, in the majority (until they really piss off the Alawites, when that will change) aren’t going to let this go. And the Alawites (and the Christians that support them) know damn well the Muslims will exterminate them now. Gonna get real ugly, with no good guys, and the risk that the world’s largest Chemical Weapons stockpile will get loose, (or be used as a last resort if the Alawites are losing).
Pretend Russia and China don’t veto the Security Council. So what? What threat can we deliver to the Alawites (and their Christian supporters) greater than extermination?
And the Assads? It’s the crime family that took control of smuggling in the port cities long before they siezed national power. Those “ghosts” that hack up the children were working for the Assads for generations, there are just more of them now. Cold day in Hell that organized crime family will sacrifice themselves to save the Alawites in general.
No, there’s really nothing anyone can do, they are going to settle it on the battlefield.
Bet on the Alawites.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 10:17pmleave syria alone but the reason why there a target is because they don’t have a central bank installed and are not a part of the central banking system that is certainly what many of the countries that have been targeted have had in common.
Report Post »Passerby
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:10pmNah, it’s because the Saudis are Sunni.
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 1:16pmBoy you can work the Fed into any issue. Bounty or Charmin? Which one has ties to the fed?
Report Post »Passerby
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:52pmThe Muslims aren’t just mad at the (semi-Christian) Alawites, they are mad at the Christians that support them too.
In case you haven’t noticed, Christians are being driven out of just about every country in the Middle East. The ones in Syria are leaving the country if they can, they know what’s coming.
Yeah, irony, in this one, we are on the side of Al-Qaeda against the Christians.
Report Post »Passerby
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:47pmTotally meaningless. It’s just a way to take the heat off for doing absolutely nothing whatsoever.
It’s gone too far, the Muslims will exterminate the Alawites if they get the upper hand, there’s nothing anyone can do except maybe partition the country and put 100,000 UN troops without the blue helmets between them for a few centuries.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:07pmWould any establishment republican types care to propose what they think should be done? I see a lot of armchair quarterbacking, but no ideas. We dont know who the rebels are (just like Egypt & Libya). You really want to demand Assad step down and MB or Al Qaeda take over?
I’m not gonna defend Obama but sounds like you guys want to have it both ways. (Dont bother calling me a democrat – ive never voted for one)
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:43pmNot establishment but more conservative with a strong libertarian bent. Me, do nothing. Let the UN in their infinite wisdom deal with this. Not a single dime. After they are done with their mutually assured destruction we can talk with who ever is left. There is no good side to this.
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:57pm@dmerwin
Report Post »yea you got that right. Now if only we could get OUT of the UN….
TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 8:15amSOY. We (screw the UN) need to be working with the Jordanians (as part of an Arab League peacekeeping mission) who in reality may have the best chance of going into Syria on friendly terms to secure dozens of sites that may (most probably) contain chemical and biological weapons. This should be done immediately. We need to take the lead on this…
Report Post »rahgoo
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:42pmThe Syrian compromise consists of an agreement by the major powers to use Vaseline when dealing with Assad. More can be gained by the smother approach than an irritating one. Submission is the golden rule of Islam Assad is willing to bow but the super powers must allow him to rise for a short breath of fresh air.
Report Post »DevotedDad
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:42pmDoes this peace plan include not having America supply weapons, logistics, and bombs to the “rebels”, who are actually Al Qaeda terrorists?
Or is this simply a situation where Al Qaeda can blow up police stations, blow up tv stations, slaughter innocent people, hang the Al Qaeda flag, and then blame everything on Assad?
Is that the peace plan or are all side going to be part of it?
BTW – Why have all Americans had to forgo their rights to be protected from Al Qaeda, but yet we support Al Qaeda in Libya and Syria?
Never mind, nothing to see here. Just go about your business and continue to use only 1% of your brain..
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:58pmof course, its either hypocrisy or stupidity
remember….the government loves boogeymen. In this case, they are just planning for the future
Report Post »soybomb315
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:34pmits a damn civil war – stay out of it
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:45pmAgreed.
Report Post »Passerby
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 9:49pmAbsolutely, (unless the reputed largest Chemical Weapons stockpile in the world starts getting loose.)
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:31pmDoes Kojo get a cut somehow?
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:29pmAnyone bother to ask Assad and his protector Iran?
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:27pmLet me offer a solution “7 point 62 millimeter full metal jacket”.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:01pmWho cares?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:33pmI care a great deal. I despise the UN and resent being a part of it, and we can’t afford another stupid war.
Report Post »Dougral Supports Israel
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 5:03pmSo, the world powers have decided. Question is, who will bell the cat?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 6:02pmReally have to ask?
Report Post »KidCharlemagne
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:31pm“There is a credible alternative to the Assad regime,” she said.
=================================
Yeah….it’s called Al-Qaeda!!:
——————————————
“‘Dead’ al Qaeda’s No 2 backs rebels in Syria
June 13, 2012
Without any mention of drone attacks, he called on its fighters outside Syria to join the rebels in their fight against President Bashar al-Assad, calling him a “tyrant” and his government a “criminal regime”, according to SITE’s translation.
“We call on our brothers in Iraq, Jordan and Turkey to go to help their brothers. If your revolution was to be peaceful, God would have chosen it that way, but now the illusion of peaceful means after these great sacrifices … would show weakness,” Libi said, addressing Syrians. ”
Report Post »http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/dead-al-qaeda-s-no-2-backs-rebels-in-syria_781511.html
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:19pmThere is a credible alternative to the Assad regime,” she said. “What we have done here is to strip away the fiction that he and those with blood on their hands can stay in power.”
Translation: Obama wants war with Syria to install his radical allies in the region and continue to garner support of Iran for the long run; only the threat of Russian intervention might keep him in check from lashing out in full measure. Though with his narcissism, even that is in doubt.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:36pmThere is nothing Obama wants less than war with Syria. He may be naive, but he is not diabolical.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 5:33pmAnother translation would be “ please somebody stop this so I can look like I made some type of foreign policy decision that worked”. Obama= way over his head, all the time.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:01pmBring him over to my house. I will “guard” him…Bacon greased ammo anyone?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:01pmI wish the United States was in favor of national sovereignty rather than Russia and China.
Report Post »allensmithee789
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 3:54pm“No sugar tonight in my Kofi, No sugar tonight for Barry” Can you just call a Time-out until after my election, your making it hard to run for me.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 4:04pmThose darned head winds again.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 3:35pm“The U.S. backed away from insisting that the plan explicitly exclude President Bashar Assad from any role in a new government, hoping the concession would encourage Russia to put greater pressure on its longtime ally”
Report Post »Nice move Barry, you really have Putin on the ropes now! He laughs at you pal.
dmerwin
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 7:30pmLets not forget that Syria often carries water for Iran.
Report Post »