Kofi Annan resign as special envoy of the UN to Syria

Kofi Annan on Thursday announced his resignation as Special Envoy of the United Nations (UN) and the Syrian Arab League, said the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon in New York. Annan requested that its mandate is not renewed when it expires next August 31, DPA reported. "I would like to express my deep gratitude to Mr. Annan by the determined and courageous efforts undertaken as special envoy to Syria together," said Ban. Annan threw the towel as a mediator for Syria after reaching the conclusion that under the current escalation of violence and division of the international community a political solution is impossible, say observers, he said Efe. "It is impossible for me or anyone else convince the government and opposition take steps to open a political process, "Annan told a news conference after Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced he will step down Aug. 31. The special envoy still joint UN and Syrian Arab League announced its decision by letter to Ban, who announced "with deep regret" his resignation and regret his departure amid the "spiral of violence" in the country. The Annan press conference in Geneva was announced by surprise, minutes before it was confirmed that a waiver on for weeks there was speculation in diplomatic circles. In private, public, and most recently, former Secretary General of the United Nations had complained especially the lack of unity in the international community to end 17 months of armed conflict, something he reiterated in his testimony on Thursday. Still, he wanted to leave a crack open to hope in finding that "Syria can still be saved from the worst calamity "if the international community assumes its responsibility. "I have not received all the support they needed ... There is cause division among the international community and this is something that does not facilitate the task of the mediator," he lamented the former UN secretary general, who said he will continue to work until late August as it has done to date. Five months after accepting the mediation mission on behalf of the UN and the Arab League, Annan dismissed a statement reading in which he explained that agreed to take "what some called 'mission impossible'," because it was "a sacred duty to do whatever we could to help the Syrian people to find a solution." The growing militarization on the ground and the lack of unity international community, represented by the lack of unanimity in the Security Council of the UN, are the main elements that have led to the decision to resign. Annan was especially critical of the permanent members of UN Security (China, Russia, United States, France and UK), whom he accused of "sign with his finger and exchange insults when we needed actions."The diplomat predicted that "the bloodshed will continue" in Syria, and attributed to First, "the Syrian government's intransigence," and second "to the escalation of the military campaign of the opposition, together with the international division". also said his peace plan presented six points in April, and including a ceasefire and the establishment of a political transition process through a national unity government, "remains on the table," but added that now must be the Security Council that it assumes as its own. Also still on the table the Geneva Declaration of 30 June in which the Task Force for Syria called for a national transitional government, with participation of the Asad regime Bacher and the opposition as peaceful resolution of conflict. Diplomats indicated that this document has been born as "worthless" and that was the ultimate finding by Annan that there was no real political will among world leaders to seriously address the civil war in Syria. Annan's resignation was a surprise although last week sources close to the Ghanaian diplomat who leaked envoy was rethinking its mission, tired of words and lack of action, both of the protagonists of the conflict, the Security Council of United Nations. Annan has applied its diplomatic experience in these five months, with constant trips to the region, including Damascus and major political capitals, but in vain. began its mediation in March, on behalf of the UN and Arab League presenting a peace plan that only six points got a brief respite in the early days of April. His patience reached its peak after China and Russia to return to exercise its veto twice in the Security Council last day 19, rejecting the imposition of economic sanctions on Syria, a decision was "disappointing" for the mediator. The rejection came after Annan traveled to Moscow and held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, "that came with the solid feeling that the compromise was possible "to confirm after the words are not translated into action.