Russia nudges Syria to move on By M K Bhadrakumar

 

By M K Bhadrakumar 

The United Nations Security Council statement on Syria on Wednesday marks a turning point. The unanimity of opinion over the year-long crisis in Syria is appearing for the first time; why and how this happened needs to be understood. 

Russia finds itself in the driving seat in crafting the future of a key Middle East nation. This is unprecedented and it impacts the alchemy of ties between the presidency of Vladimir Putin and the West. Indeed, the Arab Spring won't be the same again. 

But first, Wednesday's statement itself. It "declassified" the initial six-point proposal submitted to the Syrian authorities by the joint special envoy for the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Kofi Annan. The endorsement by the permanent five of the UN Security Council - the United States, Russia, France, United Kingdom and China - implies that the Syrian government is expected to work with Annan. 

The six-point proposal demands: 

The Syrian government designate an "empowered interlocutor" for Annan to work with.

The cessation of all violence, including an immediate end to all troop movements and security operations and a pullback from population centers, with a UN supervision mechanism to oversee a "sustained cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties".

The creation of a mechanism for coordinating the rendering of humanitarian relief assistance.

The expedition of the release of political prisoners.

International media coverage of the Syrian situation.

A legal guarantee for peaceful political activities. READ MORE