KOFI ANNAN IS MORE NEUTRAL THAN NATO MEDIA MAKES HIM OUT TO BE

Kofi Annan was in Damscus yesterday meeting with Assad. Annan held a press conference after the meeting. From accounts in the NATO media you would think that it was a very, very brief conference indeed and that Annan accused Assad and Assad alone.

The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph report on it, and use the same quotation from Annan, the one you should all by now be running through your fluoride-and-nanotech-riddled brains about Syria being at a "tipping point".

The UN and Arab League's special envoy, Kofi Annan, who was in Damascus for talks with president Bashar al-Assad, described the situation as a "tipping point".

"The Syrian people do not want the future to be one of bloodshed and division. Yet the killings continue and the abuses are still with us today." Annan said. "As I reminded the president, the international community will soon be reviewing the situation."

[source : Syrian diplomats expelled across world as outrage over Houla massacre grows, The Guardian, http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/29/syria-diplomat-expel-us-houla-massacre, 30/05/2012]

"We are at a tipping point," Annan said after his talks with the Syrian leader in the capital, aimed at rescuing his troubled peace blueprint that was supposed to begin with a ceasefire from April 12 that has never taken hold.

"The Syrian people do not want the future to be one of bloodshed and division. Yet the killings continue and the abuses are still with us today," the former UN chief said.

"I appealed to him for bold steps now – not tomorrow, now – to create momentum for the implementation of the plan.

"This means that the government, and all government-backed militias, could stop all military operations and show maximum restraint."

[source : Syria: Kofi Annan urges Bashar al-Assad to 'act now' , The Daily Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9299287/Syria-Kofi-Annan-urges-Bashar-al-Assad-to-act-now.html, 30/05/2012]

However, a transcript of that press conference is available on the United Nations website, and far from pointing his finger at just Assad, Annan shows that he is fully aware that the situation in Syria is not as simple as the NATO media make it out to be. Annan frequently referred to the armed opposition, their sponsors, terrorist acts, and he appeals to ALL governments to use their influence to stop the violence.

Here is what I think are the most significant quotes from Annan.

I also appeal to the armed opposition to cease acts of violence.

And I also ask all States with influence to impress upon the Government and all parties the need for a cessation of violence in all its forms – including the continuing human rights abuses.

...Let me stress once again: the violence must stop and the six point plan must be implemented. I need the President to act now. I need other parties to do their part.

Question: I am asking about the expelling of the Ambassadors today, does it help your mission? Also some countries expressed support for the terrorist groups. Are you done anything to prevent these countries from doing that?

Joint Special Envoy: Obviously, as someone who believes we should talk to resolve conflicts, I would prefer a situation where everybody is talking to each other to find a solution. But these governments have decided that events have taken place in this country and they have to register their protest and their disapproval, and they chose asking for the withdrawal of the Syrian diplomats as a way of doing it. As I said [in response] to the earlier question, it is their sovereign decision to do so. On the question of the violence in the country and terrorist attacks and all that, we are in touch with everybody. We have contacts with the armed opposition and the opposition, and I have contacts with governments around the world who have influence on both sides to use their influence to pull back the groups from the violent acts.

Question: Ahmad Fawzi said that you asked President Assad to take bold steps to implement the six-point plan and that you were also concerned about the situation in Syria. On the other hand, President Assad has said that the crux of the problem in Syria is the terrorist acts and the smuggling of arms across borders to the armed opposition or to the militants. Is there a difference of opinion between the two of you?

Joint Special Envoy: The President indeed did say that to me. When you look at the situation on the ground, in reality you have several actors and people on the ground. We have the Government forces, we have the opposition armed groups and there are terrorist activities which we all see. But I think, we believe, that to bring peace to Syria the Government and the opposition armed forces and whoever is fighting on the other side – yesterday I used a phrase that when we talk of peace, we are not giving a message of peace only to the Government side or to the armed opposition; it is to everyone with a gun. Everyone with a gun must understand that the people of Syria want peace and eventually we will need to find a political way out without our guns. But the way the six-point plan is elaborated, indicates that we see two sides. And we have asked the Government, as a bigger partner, as a more responsible party, to take certain bold steps to be able to encourage confidence and momentum for the others. That was the basis of the six-point plan and we are encouraging its implementation.

Question: I am Russian living in Syria and reporting for various Russian online sites. What is happening in Syria reminds me of what happened in Yugoslavia that led to its division. We have sources that tell us that the Pentagon is preparing for war. If that happens, what do we do? What do Syrians do and what does the Government do?

Joint Special Envoy: First of all, I have no information that the Pentagon is preparing for war. And by implication you think we will repeat what happened in Yugoslavia, I have no indications of that. What I would insist on is that we all take steps to help end this violence. Yes the Government and the other parties with guns have a responsibility. But let me say that we as citizens and as individuals are not entirely helpless either. I know it is stressful, there are lots of fears and threats, but people can find ways and means of making their feelings known. Of getting the message around that we do not accept this; this is enough, no more violence, no more. You can play a role in a way that perhaps you cannot imagine, but people and the population do have lots of power and working together can do a lot.

Question: You were in contact with all sides to stop terrorist acts in Syria. But we still see these terrorist acts and the Syrian people are paying a heavy price. What are you doing to stop these countries and limit their ability to supply weapons?

Joint Special Envoy: First of all, as the joint envoy for the UN and the Arab League, my mandate is clear. My mandate is for us to work with the Syrians and all concerned to find a peaceful solution. And therefore I am not one who will encourage or promote militarization of the conflict and the UN is not in favour of further militarization of the conflict.

[source : Transcript of the press conference by the Joint Special Envoy on the Syrian crisis - Damascus, UN, http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/Syria/press.asp?NewsID=1217&sID=41, 29/05/2012]

But perhaps the most damning statement from Annan was this.

Those who can end the conflict are the protagonists. We have indicated the actions the Government can take and the six-point plan makes it very clear. We have also indicated the actions we expect the opposition and the armed groups to take. We have also appealed to Governments around the world not to further militarize this process.

So you can see why NATO media like The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph were very, very selective in their quotes from Annan. He was not too happy about the coordinated expulsions of Syrian Ambassadors, and he is fully aware of a terrorist element that is being financed by other nations. But is he meeting with them directly as he is with Assad, rather than just using an intermediary?

And Annan also said that to say the UN observer mission has failed was "hasty".