Kofi Annan, the UN-Arab League joint special envoy for Syria, addresses the UN General Assembly on the latest situation in Syria at the UN headquarters in New York, June 7, 2012. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
UNITED NATIONS -- Kofi Annan, the joint UN and Arab League special envoy for Syria, said here Thursday that it is very important now to push for the implementation of his six-point plan to end the 16-month crisis in Syria or the violence will be spin out of the border to affect peace and stability in the region.
Annan, the former UN secretary-general, made the statement as he was meeting the press here jointly with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the secretary-general of the Arab League, Nabil Elaraby, after they briefed the UN Security Council on the current situation in Syria.
"I am not sure whether it's a plan that is dead or it's the implementation that is lacking," Annan said. "This is what the council has been discussing this afternoon -- what needs to be done to push the implementation and what will be the consequences if the implementation is not carried forward."
Annan, who has been engaged in his good offices on Syria for nearly two months, made the remarks in response to a press question whether he thinks his plan is dead.
Earlier Thursday, Annan told the UN General Assembly that his six-point plan "is not being implemented," and the situation in Syria is deteriorating.
The six-point plan, widely backed by the international community and accepted by the Syrian government, calls for the withdrawal of heavy weapons and troops from population centers, a daily halt in fighting for the delivery of humanitarian aid and treatment for the wounded, as well as talks between the government and opposition.
"I think the plan has been endorsed by every one," Annan said, "and I've also said 'if this plan is not working, or we decide, this is not the way to go, we should be looking at options,' but as long as we all agree, the plan has merit, the question is: How do you get the Syrian government to perform, to implement it, even at this late hour?"
"This is what the Council is in the process of discussing, and I'm not going to do their work." Annan said.
For his part, Ban said that the international community must act now to end the Syrian crisis at an early date.
"It is up to the members of the Council to find common cause," he said. "We are very much encouraged by such a strong commitment and unity of voices in condemning current recent massacres. They were all passionate in speaking out for the necessity of taking action. But let me say here that we need bolder action."
"We must speak with one voice," he said. "We must deliver a clear and unmistakable message."
"The violence must stop, on both sides," he said, referring to the Syrian government and the armed opposition. "We need a peaceful transition that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people."
At the same time, Elaraby said that "Enough is enough", and the international community, including the Security Council, should "take action now" to stop the violence in Syria.