Annan: Syria to pull back troops by April 10
Apr 4, 2012 11:22:50 GMT -5
Post by shann0 on Apr 4, 2012 11:22:50 GMT -5
www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57408094/diplomat-annan-sets-april-10-deadline-for-syria/
Annan: Syria to pull back troops by April 10
In this Sunday, April 1, 2012 photo, Free Syrian Army fighters are seen in a neighborhood of Damascus, Syria. Government and opposition forces clashed across Syria Monday as international envoy Kofi Annan prepared to brief the U.N. Security Council on the progress of his mission to ease the Syrian crisis. (AP Photo)
The Arab Spring
Violence as Syrian gov't claims troop pullout
Syrian official: Our troops are now pulling back
Syrian forces, rebels fight ahead of deadline
Red Cross presses for aid access in Syria
Syria in crisis: Who are the key players?
Complete Coverage »
(CBS/AP) UNITED NATIONS - International envoy Kofi Annan told the U.N. Security Council on Monday that Syria informed him its military will complete the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons from populated areas by April 10.
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said Annan received a letter from Syria's foreign minister on Sunday with the April 10 date and indicated he would have preferred an earlier deadline. She said Annan urged the Syrian government to start the withdrawal immediately and move no further into populated areas, and "that commitment was provided."
Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'fari said the April 10 deadline was set "by common accord" between Annan and the Syrian government, and he again pledged his government's complete support for Annan's six-point plan to end the yearlong Syrian crisis.
But Rice, the current Security Council president, expressed skepticism about Syria's commitment, saying that Damascus has made and broken promises over many months.
Clinton on Syria: "This is the moment of truth"
U.S. pledges $12M to Syria's rebels
Syrian official: Regime won't back down
"We have seen commitments to end the violence followed by massive intensifications of violence," Rice said. "So the United States, for one, would look at these commitments and say, yet again, the proof is the actions, not in the words."
She added: "Past experience would lead us to be skeptical and to worry that over the next several days rather than a diminution of the violence, we might, yet again, see an escalation of the violence. We certainly hope that is not so. We hope the Syrian authorities will implement the commitments they made without condition or codicils."
Given the skepticism, the Security Council was making contingency plans if Annan's deadline is not met, including sanctions and other more aggressive measures, reports CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pam Falk. But getting anything through the Security Council will still rely on China and Russia, who have twice protected Assad's regime from censure by the Council.
Annan: Syria to pull back troops by April 10
In this Sunday, April 1, 2012 photo, Free Syrian Army fighters are seen in a neighborhood of Damascus, Syria. Government and opposition forces clashed across Syria Monday as international envoy Kofi Annan prepared to brief the U.N. Security Council on the progress of his mission to ease the Syrian crisis. (AP Photo)
The Arab Spring
Violence as Syrian gov't claims troop pullout
Syrian official: Our troops are now pulling back
Syrian forces, rebels fight ahead of deadline
Red Cross presses for aid access in Syria
Syria in crisis: Who are the key players?
Complete Coverage »
(CBS/AP) UNITED NATIONS - International envoy Kofi Annan told the U.N. Security Council on Monday that Syria informed him its military will complete the withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons from populated areas by April 10.
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said Annan received a letter from Syria's foreign minister on Sunday with the April 10 date and indicated he would have preferred an earlier deadline. She said Annan urged the Syrian government to start the withdrawal immediately and move no further into populated areas, and "that commitment was provided."
Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'fari said the April 10 deadline was set "by common accord" between Annan and the Syrian government, and he again pledged his government's complete support for Annan's six-point plan to end the yearlong Syrian crisis.
But Rice, the current Security Council president, expressed skepticism about Syria's commitment, saying that Damascus has made and broken promises over many months.
Clinton on Syria: "This is the moment of truth"
U.S. pledges $12M to Syria's rebels
Syrian official: Regime won't back down
"We have seen commitments to end the violence followed by massive intensifications of violence," Rice said. "So the United States, for one, would look at these commitments and say, yet again, the proof is the actions, not in the words."
She added: "Past experience would lead us to be skeptical and to worry that over the next several days rather than a diminution of the violence, we might, yet again, see an escalation of the violence. We certainly hope that is not so. We hope the Syrian authorities will implement the commitments they made without condition or codicils."
Given the skepticism, the Security Council was making contingency plans if Annan's deadline is not met, including sanctions and other more aggressive measures, reports CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pam Falk. But getting anything through the Security Council will still rely on China and Russia, who have twice protected Assad's regime from censure by the Council.
