Kofi Annan resigns,slams divided UNSC for lack of action on Syria

A bitter Annan said it was “impossible” for him or any other mediator to facilitate a political process between the Syrian government and rebel forces without “serious and united” pressure by the international community.

Annan spoke over phone with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon,who expressed his “deep regret” over his decision to not renew his mandate when it expires on August 31. Annan assumed his post in late February.

“At a time when we need ¿ when the Syrian people desperately need action – there continues to be finger-pointing and name-calling in the Security Council,” Annan told reporters in Geneva.

“The increasing militarisation on the ground and the clear lack of unity in the Security Council,have fundamentally changed the circumstances for the effective exercise of my role… Without serious,purposeful and united international pressure,including from the powers of the region,it is impossible for me,or anyone,to compel the Syrian government in the first place,and also the opposition,to take the steps necessary to begin a political process,” Annan said.

In the absence of unity in the international community and the UN Security Council over how to resolve the Syrian crisis,Annan said “as an envoy,I can’t want peace more than the protagonists,more than the Security Council or the international community”.

Earlier,UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed “deep regret” on Annan’s decision to step down as the international envoy.

Annan said Syria can still be saved from the “worst calamity” if the international community shows courage and leadership necessary to “compromise on their partial interests for the sake of the Syrian people – for the men,women and children who have already suffered far too much”.

The 15-nation UN Security Council has failed to take action to stop the Assad’s regime and rebel fighters from causing more bloodshed after permanent members Russia and China thrice vetoed resolutions that would have threatened sanctions against Assad’s regime.

The Security Council is due to hold consultations on Syria late today and the General Assembly is expected to hold a meeting on the crisis tomorrow.

Annan said he had informed Ban and Secretary-General of the Arab League Nabil El Araby that he did not intend to continue his mission when his mandate expires at the end of August.

Terming his task as the Syrian envoy as “mission impossible,” Annan said he had believed it was his “sacred duty” to do all he could to help the Syrian people find a peaceful solution to the bloody conflict.

“The severity of the humanitarian costs of the conflict,and the exceptional threats posed by this crisis to international peace and security,justified the attempts to secure a peaceful transition to a political settlement,however daunting the challenge,” he said.

Annan said despite his efforts to broker peace,bloodshed continues in Syria mostly because of the Syrian government’s intransigence,and continuing refusal to implement the six-point plan,and also because of the escalating military campaign of the opposition – all of which is compounded by the disunity of the international community.

Annan’s six-point peace plan called for an end to violence,access for humanitarian agencies to provide relief to those in need,the release of detainees,the start of inclusive political dialogue,and unrestricted access to the country for the international media.

“The Geneva Communique,endorsed by the Action Group for Syria on June 30,provided an international agreement on a framework for a political transition.

This should have been automatically endorsed by the Security Council and something the international community should have built on,” Annan added.

Despite initial signs of acceptance of the plan and repeated calls from UN officials,there has been little in the way of the plan’s implementation by the parties to the conflict.

Over recent days,there have been reports of an escalation in violence in many towns and villages,as well as the country’s two biggest cities,Damascus and Aleppo.