Minutes of Assad-Annan new truce deal

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Known as Syria’s mouthpiece, Beirut’s daily al-Akhbar has a proven record of privileged access to authoritative news and views from Damascus.

Today, the paper’s front-page screamer consists of four words: “The Assad-Annan agreement.”

Though bylined Jean Aziz, the front-page lead actually highlights what I deem to be the minutes of the meeting between UN Special Envoy Kofi Annan and President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Monday, July 9.

Jean Aziz is a Lebanese socio-political activist, journalist, university professor and talk show host. He is now close to Michel Aoun, Christian leader of Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement and a maverick ally of both Syria and Hezbollah.

Here is what I believe was passed on to Aziz by Damascus:

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The meeting between President Assad and UN Special Envoy Annan lasted an hour and a half.

The atmosphere was relaxed. There was no mention of the UN mission’s failure or of the tough talk by the (July 6 “Friends of Syria”) conference in Paris. Both sides spoke of the situation on the ground “in order to put in place a specific mechanism for a ceasefire” and of the coveted political dialogue between the Syrian government and its opponents.

Jean Aziz

The meeting between President Assad and Special Envoy Annan, both renowned to be courteous was in the presence of Gen. Robert Mood, head of UNSMIS, and Martin Griffith, head of the UN mission in Syria.

Annan started the conversation by saying he had been following the Syrian president’s recent interviews with the German TV network (ARD) and Turkey’s Gumhuriyet daily, remarking: “It seems, Mr. President, you’ve been increasing your media exposure of late.”

Assad replied with a smile on his face: “That’s true. The reason is twofold. One, I am the type of person who prefers to act then talk. Two, I noticed lately there is an almost total blackout on the facts and a good deal of manipulation and distortion of realities and events. That’s why I thought it was my duty to speak up.”

Annan grasped the hint and said he was aware of the difference between happenings on the ground and fictional scenarios and concocted impressions being broadcast.

Annan then started his official presentation, saying: “Mr. President, I thought it was my duty after the (June 30 “Action Group on Syria”) conference we held in Geneva, and in the countdown to my July 20-21 briefing of the UN Security Council, to meet with you and update you on what we did and what we need to follow through.”

It was obvious from his opening sentence that Annan did not want to mention the Paris conference from far or near. No did he wish to dwell on the post-Paris hype.

Annan went further, seizing the opportunity to reiterate his and the UN’s adherence to his six-point plan. He explicitly told his presidential host the Geneva conference declaration did no more than endorse his six-point initiative, adding: “I am sure you know, Mr. President, that what actually took place in Geneva does not tally with the ensuing interpretations and explanations that sought to distort and expound on what was approved at the conference.”

The implication is that Annan was fully endorsing the post-Geneva Russian stand vis-à-vis the Western allies’ position.

Annan then moved on to talk about conditions on the ground in Syria and about the UN observer mission, dwelling on the tragic situation in some areas and thus the urgency of implementing his initiative’s key point – namely, the cessation of violence.

Assad was considerate and totally receptive, offering a brief recap of his guest’s mission since it went into force on April 12. He recounted how the (government’s) armed forces complied with the ceasefire for 24 hours until the insurgents, as attested in the UN observers’ reports, breached it.

During Assad’s recap, Gen. Mood was seen nodding his head approvingly more than once.

Annan took stock of Assad’s words, saying there was every reason to renew the drive for a ceasefire – particularly that the explosive situation in Syria risked spilling over to other countries. He specifically mentioned a likely spillover to Lebanon.

“So let’s try again, let’s agree a mechanism for a ceasefire starting with any one of the (Syrian) hotspots. We can then duplicate it in another,” Annan suggested.

Once again, Assad proved fully amenable before asking his guests: “We are a state, government and official authority, which means when we give you our word on a ceasefire we become accountable to you. But who will you be negotiating with on the other side?”

At this point, Annan began answering together with Gen. Mood.

The pair explained that UN observers were able in the course of their mission to make a semi-comprehensive appraisal of the armed groups.

Annan and Mood said, “We at least got to know the major groups. We got to know their chiefs. True, they don’t have a unified command or a clear command structure. Their armed chaos is massive. But we got to know their key figures. That’s why we believe we can work and proceed with them step by step.”

Again, it was clear both men now describe regime opponents as “the armed opposition.”

Annan was reminded at this point how armed insurgents foiled earlier ceasefire attempts, chiefly in Homs.

“Not long ago,” Annan was told, “ your observers witnessed how some armed elements tried leaving Homs’ al-Khalidiya neighborhood to hand in their weapons and surrender. Other rebels stopped them from this. Your observers also saw first-hand how armed insurgents frustrated attempts to evacuate some citizens trapped in Homs’ Dayyan and Hamidiya neighborhoods.”

Griffith corroborated this as an eyewitness himself.

The UN delegates did not dispute their host’s remarks. But Annan went on to state: “Nevertheless, the situation being what it is, let’s try again. Our observers would reach an agreement with the armed groups in the area where we choose to start. At the same time, we would ask for a goodwill gesture on your part in the chosen area. The gesture would see you observe a unilateral ceasefire in the designated area, of say four hours, pending the mutual ceasefire’s entry into force.”

Here, Annan was reminded that the ceasefire provision in his six-point plan was contingent on the cessation of the funding of, and smuggling of arms to, the opposition.

The UN envoy listened carefully for a few seconds until he was asked bluntly: “What do you think of U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s talks two days ago about the prospects of a ‘catastrophic assault’ on government forces by the armed groups? Is that consistent with your (troubleshooting) mission?”

Annan paused for a few seconds before replying, “No, of course not. This is dangerous talk. But let’s try, let’s try applying this (phased ceasefire) approach step by step.”

As regards a timetable for this process, both sides exchanged various proposals and views before settling on a three-month timeline to see it through, beginning with the execution of the first step. Concomitantly, the two sides would issue a joint progress report every fortnight.

Annan then moved on to the matter of political dialogue between the government and the opposition in a tone vacillating between realism and skepticism.

The UN envoy asked Assad, “Should we make progress on the security front, would you be able to name your representative for the negotiations with the opposition – a sort of liaison officer to see through the second chapter of the UN mission?”

Dr. Ali Haidar

Assad smiled and replied instantaneously: “Before you even asked, and since formation of the current government, we decided on the person to be in charge of this matter. He is our minister of state for national reconciliation affairs, Dr. Ali Haidar.”

When Annan wanted to know more about Dr. Haidar, Assad explained the reasons for his selection, saying: “One, because he is not from the loyalist camp. Two, he is effectively from the opposition and heads a credible opposition party. Three, he was injured during the events and his son was killed by armed rebels. But he was able to overcome all this and accept the job of working for a genuine national reconciliation.”

Annan remarked, “But we would have preferred the nomination of someone closer to you -- someone who would be in direct contact with you to bring the dialogue process to completion.”

Assad smiled again, telling Annan: “Dr. Haidar and I shared adjoining desks throughout my university years specializing in ophthalmology. Do you want someone closer than that? Anyway, I think your greater difficulty will be on the other side, not on ours. Will you be able to get a name to represent the opposition?”

Annan couldn’t help chuckling before saying, “I am certainly aware of the difficulty. I saw them (the opposition groups) at their last conference in Cairo.”

The official meeting ended there. But while preparing to take leave, Annan asked his host, “How long you think can this crisis last?”

Assad: “So long as (…) funds them” -- (a possible reference to Qatar).

Annan was not taken aback by Assad’s answer but wondered: “You think they’re doing all the funding?”

Assad: “They’re doing a lot of things in the region. They believe they can lead the Arab world now and in future.”

Annan quipped, “But it seems they lack the number of citizens to do that.”

Damascus intensifying mass arrests -- Annan

By renowned Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat 

International envoy Kofi Annan says Syrian troops appear to be intensifying mass arrests and torture in rebellious communities.

Diplomats say Annan made the comments on Tuesday in a closed briefing to the UN Security Council via videoconference from Geneva.

One diplomat said Annan did not sound optimistic. 
"I won't call him optimistic," the diplomat said of Annan's briefing behind closed-doors. 
 He quoted Annan as saying his six-point peace plan is not an "open-ended" commitment and it is "possibly the last chance" to avoid a civil war. 


He also quoted Annan as saying violence must stop and a credible political process must start, "not like yesterday's elections."

According to other diplomats, Annan said the onus remains on the Damascus government to create a situation in which all Syrians will reject further militarization of the conflict. 
 He said, "Limited progress has been achieved on military operations, but much more remains to be done."

He said unacceptable levels of violence and abuses are continuing, and government troops continue to be present in and around cities and towns but in some smaller formations. 
 He said the presence of UN observers and interventions in specific instances appear to have had a calming effect, adding that there have been fewer large-scale operations by the government. 


Annan said a drop in military operations is not meaningful if replaced by other forms of violence after a year of serious abuses, noting there have been extensive human rights violations and denial of the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. 


He was particularly concerned by reports human rights violations are continuing and perhaps increasing.

On the release of prisoners, part of his six-point plan, Annan said he had expected much faster progress and a much higher number of releases. 


On the humanitarian situation, he said one million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance and insufficient progress has been made on humanitarian access. 


He strongly urged the government to accept conditions for the scaling up of humanitarian assistance without delay, noting that while steps have been taken, the government has clearly not responded to people’s needs.

TRANSCRIPT

Annan later told reporters the United Nations couldn’t allow Syria to descend into civil war. He said since a shaky cease-fire went into effect last month, Syrian forces have reduced their bombardment of rebels and opposition strongholds. But he added that Syrian security forces continue to operate in and around centers of the 14-month opposition uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.

The transcript of his press conference:

Annan: Good evening ladies and gentlemen,

I have just finished briefing the Security Council on the situation in Syria and I was able to tell them how proud I am of the colleagues on the ground – unarmed observers and civilian experts – who have shown incredible courage in the work they have been sent down to do.

And I also expressed my appreciation for the Member States who have offered observers for the mission and also helped us airlift some of our equipment. And I think if you had an opportunity to listen – I was very pleased also with the two departments in New York, who have done everything possible to deploy as fast as possible.

We started slowly but they have given us an assurance that by the end of this month, the whole 300 observers would be on the ground and I believe their presence will make quite a difference. We have been small in numbers but even where we have been able to place two or three observers, they have had a calming effect. And I think when they are fully deployed, and working as a team, establishing relations with the people, we will see much greater impact on the work that they are there to do.

There has been some decrease in the military activities but there are still serious violations in the cessation of violence that was agreed and the levels of violence and abuses are unacceptable.

Government troops and armor are still present, though in smaller formations.

There have been worrying episodes of violence by the Government, but we have also seen attacks against Government forces, troops and installations, and there has been a spate of bombings, which are really worrying, and, I am sure, creates incredible insecurity among the civilian population.

However, it is also clear, as I have said earlier, that the presence of our observers, and, in situations where they have intervened specifically, have not only had a calming effect, but sometimes they have been able to get the forces involved to do the right thing.

There has been, as I said, less shelling, but I also emphasized to the Council, that the need for human rights abuses to come to an end cannot be underestimated. This is part of the plan, part of what the mission is all about, and I think once we are fully deployed we will be able to have even greater impact in this area.

And it must be understood that we need to ensure that all aspects of the six-point plan are implemented to create a conducive environment for us to move on to the political dialogue.

It will be extremely difficult to make good progress on dialogue if the current conditions persist. I also told Members of the Council that I believe that the UN supervision mission is possibly the only remaining chance to stabilize the country.

And I’m sure I’m not telling you any secret when I tell you that there is a profound concern that the country could otherwise descend into full civil war and the implications of that are quite frightening. We cannot allow that to happen.

I hope both the government and all components of the opposition understand this, and see this fragile but real opportunity to bring the situation under control. The violence must stop and a credible political process must begin for the sake of the Syrian people who have suffered so much, and whose welfare must be at the centre of everything we try to do.

I will take a few questions.

Q: Mr. Kofi Annan, when you talk about the political process, can you talk about the parliamentary elections yesterday in Syria in this political process?

Annan: I think the electoral process, the election of yesterday, was an initiative of the government and they had planned it. When I talk of a political process, which would be an outcome of dialogue and discussions, a national dialogue between Syrians and the Government, which could also lead, which may also lead to elections; this is not that election. This was a separate election and I think the Syrian authorities understand that depending on the outcome of the dialogue, another election may be necessary.

Q: What’s the biggest priority right now for your plan to progress?

Annan: I think the biggest priority, as I said, first of all we need to stop the killing. We need to stop the killing and we are pushing very hard for that -- not only with the government and the parties on the other side, but also talking to governments with influence to support us in this process.

We also need to get humanitarian assistance to those in need, and we are not where we want to be on that and discussions are ongoing on the humanitarian issue.

But it’s a six-point plan and all the six points must be implemented comprehensively. And I think if we do that and we send a powerful political signal that we are ready to resolve this issue peacefully, we stand a better chance of making faster progress when we bring the people to the political table.

Q: Concerning the fragility of the ceasefire, are there any specific measure that you can propose or the UN are willing to take?

Annan: I think the message should go out loud and clear to the government, which has a greater responsibility in terms of its size to really do whatever it can to reduce the violence; but the same goes to the other armed groups. They should think of the people who have been caught in the middle for about 15 months, day and night, hearing guns, their rights abused and traumatized, and really give peace a chance.

Yes, we may be told it’s extremely difficult to get everyone to honor their commitments and obey the order to lay down their arms but we all remember that they did it on the 12^th of April. It was quiet on the 12^th of April. So they are in control, both sides. And if you can do it for one day, why don’t you do it for a week, for a month?

Give peace a chance and give the people of Syria a break. Why do they have to put up with this trauma?

Q: Do you think President Assad is worried about the consequences for him personally, if your plan does not succeed, do you think he should be worried? And have you warned him about the consequences of failure?

Annan: I don’t carry warnings and threats. I mediate and negotiate and try to get people moving in the right direction.

I know lots of questions have been asked about what happens if the plan fails. I am waiting for some suggestions as to what else we do. I think if there are better ideas, I will be the first to jump onto it.

I think the international community -- through the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Arab League -- have endorsed this approach and we are trying to push it as hard as we can to make it work. We may well conclude down the line that it doesn’t work and a different tack has to be taken. And that will be a very sad day, a tough day for the region. But my appeal to those with guns, my appeal to those who have taken – I was going to say the people prisoners, because in a way there are frightened – is to really think of them, think of the people, think of Syria, think of the region and disarm and come to the table. They all tell me they are ready to talk. We should do it sooner rather than later.

Q: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday it is a race against time to avoid civil war. So do you hope that with the deployment of observers by the end of the month, things will already change? Are you sure you are going to win this race? Is there a deadline when you can take other steps?

Annan: Nothing is sure. Nothing is sure. What we have to do is to do our best and hope the better forces in us will prevail and lead us to put down the arms and do what is right. If it fails, as the Secretary-General has warned, and it were to lead into a civil war, it will not affect only Syria, it will have an impact on the whole region. This is why we should all be so concerned for the Syrians, for Syria, and for a region that for geo-political reasons we should all be concerned about.

Unanimous UN vote on Syria observers

The 15-member UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution backing an international ceasefire monitoring forces for Syria. The resolution clears the way for an advanced party of 30 monitors – one of who is Russian – to head to Syria within hours.

Text of the resolution as adopted:

“The Security Council,

Recalling its Presidential Statements of 3 August 2011, 21 March 2012 and 5 April 2012, and also recalling all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly,

Reaffirming its support to the Joint Special Envoy for the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Kofi Annan, and his work, following General Assembly resolution A/RES/66/253 of 16 February 2012 and relevant resolutions of the League of Arab States,

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and to the purposes and principles of the Charter,

Condemning the widespread violations of human rights by the Syrian authorities, as well as any human rights abuses by armed groups, recalling that those responsible shall be held accountable, and expressing its profound regret at the death of many thousands of people in Syria,

Noting the Syrian government’s commitment on 25 March 2012 to implement the six-point proposal of the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, and to implement urgently and visibly its commitments, as it agreed to do in its communication to the Envoy of 1 April 2012, to (a) cease troop movements towards population centers, (b) cease all use of heavy weapons in such centers, and (c) begin pullback of military concentrations in and around population centers, and to implement these in their entirety by no later than 10 April 2012, and noting also the Syrian opposition’s expressed commitment to respect the cessation of violence, provided the government does so,

Noting the Envoy’s assessment that, as of 12 April 2012, the parties appeared to be observing a cessation of fire and that the Syrian government had started to implement its commitments, and supporting the Envoy’s call for an immediate and visible implementation by the Syrian government of all elements of the Envoy’s six-point proposal in their entirety to achieve a sustained cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties,

1.     Reaffirms its full support for and calls for the urgent, comprehensive, and immediate implementation of all elements of the Envoy’s six-point proposal (annex) aimed at bringing an immediate end to all violence and human rights violations, securing humanitarian access and facilitating a Syrian-led political transition leading to a democratic, plural political system, in which citizens are equal regardless of their affiliations, ethnicities or beliefs, including through commencing a comprehensive political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition;

2.     Calls upon the Syrian government to implement visibly its commitments in their entirety, as it agreed to do in its communication to the Envoy of 1 April 2012, to (a) cease troop movements towards population centers, (b) cease all use of heavy weapons in such centers, and (c) begin pullback of military concentrations in and around population centers;

3.     Underlines the importance attached by the Envoy to the withdrawal of all Syrian government troops and heavy weapons from population centers to their barracks to facilitate a sustained cessation of violence;

4.     Calls upon all parties in Syria, including the opposition, immediately to cease all armed violence in all its forms;

5.     Expresses its intention, subject to a sustained cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties, to establish immediately, after consultations between the Secretary-General and the Syrian government, a United Nations supervision mission in Syria to monitor a cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties and relevant aspects of the Envoy’s six-point proposal, on the basis of a formal proposal from the Secretary- General, which the Security Council requests to receive by 18 April 2012;

6.     Calls upon the Syrian government to ensure the effective operation of the mission, including its advance team, by: facilitating the expeditious and unhindered deployment of its personnel and capabilities as required to fulfill its mandate; ensuring its full, unimpeded, and immediate freedom of movement and access as necessary to fulfill its mandate; allowing its unobstructed communications; and allowing it to freely and privately communicate with individuals throughout Syria without retaliation against any person as a result of interaction with the mission;

7.     Decides to authorize an advance team of up to 30 unarmed military observers to liaise with the parties and to begin to report on the implementation of a full cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties, pending the deployment of the mission referred to in paragraph 5 and calls upon the Syrian government and all other parties to ensure that the advance team is able to carry out its functions according to the terms set forth in paragraph 6;

8.     Calls upon the parties to guarantee the safety of the advance team without prejudice to its freedom of movement and access, and stresses that the primary responsibility in this regard lies with the Syrian authorities;

9.     Requests the Secretary-General to report immediately to the Security Council any obstructions to the effective operation of the team by any party;

10.  Reiterates its call for the Syrian authorities to allow immediate, full and unimpeded access of humanitarian personnel to all populations in need of assistance, in accordance with international law and guiding principles of humanitarian assistance and calls upon all parties in Syria, in particular the Syrian authorities, to cooperate fully with the United Nations and relevant humanitarian organizations to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance;

11.  Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council on the implementation of this resolution by 19 April 2012;

12.  Expresses its intention to assess the implementation of this resolution and to consider further steps as appropriate;

13.  Decides to remain seized of the matter.”