Araby suggests AL-UN observer mission, special envoy to Syria - Ban

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 9 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Wednesday said he will discuss with his Arab League (AL) counterpart Nabil Al-Araby the latter's proposal to send a joint AL-UN observer mission and a joint special envoy to Syria, warning that the situation in the strife-torn country will only get worse and that the crisis will inevitably engulf the region.
"He (Al-Araby) informed me (by phone) that he intends to send the Arab League observer mission back to Syria and asked for UN help. He further suggested that we consider a joint observer mission in Syria, including a joint special envoy," Ban told reporters following a private briefing to the Security Council on his latest trip to the Middle East and Africa.
"No detailed discussions have taken place yet. We will have to discuss (the details) with the Arab League," Ban said, adding that he was not sure whether Syrian President Assad would accept such a mission or envoy.
"It is not clear. We will have to see," he said in answer to questions.
He said many Council members expressed their views about the AL proposals.
"In the coming days, we will further consult the Council before fleshing out details," he said, adding, "we stand ready to assist in any way that will contribute towards improvement on the ground and to the overall situation." The AL sent its observer mission to Syria in late December, but had to suspend its work in late January because of the security situation in the country. Since then, the countries forming the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as Jordan and Morocco, pulled their observers from Syria all together.
Ban did not hide his outrage at the situation in Syria, particularly in Homs, and his fear of its effect on the region.
"I fear that the appalling brutality we are witnessing in Homs, with heavy weapons firing into civilian neighbourhoods, is a grim harbinger of worse to come," he warned. "I am convinced that the deteriorating situation in Syria will not leave the rest of the region untouched." Ban also criticized Russia and China which vetoed a Council resolution last Saturday which would have backed an AL plan for a peaceful political transition in Syria.
"I deeply regret that the Security Council has been unable to speak with one clear voice to end the bloodshed ... For too many months, we have watched this crisis deepen. We have seen escalating violence, brutal crackdowns, and tremendous suffering by the Syrian people," he said.
The Council's "failure to do so is disastrous for the people of Syria. It has encouraged the Syrian government to step up its war on its own people. Thousands have been killed in cold blood, shredding President Assad's claims to speak for the Syrian people." "Such violence is unacceptable before humanity," Ban said. "How many deaths will it take to halt this dangerous slide toward civil war and sectarian strife? How many more people will have to die before a political solution comes out?" he wondered, adding that President Assad "should be responsible for all this. I am urging that this should be stopped immediately." "If this killing continues, it will only erode his legitimacy as leader of Syria. I have been repeatedly saying that he's losing legitimacy as the leader of Syria. Therefore, it is important to take bold and decisive measures," he stressed.
"Any moment is important to end violence and to have political negotiations, for him to take decisive decisions; to, first of all, immediately end violence. At this time, I would like to urge all parties to end the violence and engage in political negotiation on this matter," he urged.
At this moment of such "grave consequence," Ban argued, it is "more urgent than ever to find common ground. We have heard too many broken promises, even within the past 24 hours." Close to 6,000 civilians were killed since pro-democracy protestors took to the streets in mid-March calling for an end to the Assad regime.
On his trip to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, Ban said there is "considerable frustration and skepticism on both sides. Time is not on the side of either party." "The situation is not favourable and it seems that the parties are still just taking 'wait and see' positions, considering all that is happening in the region. But I urged them that, while the situation may look fragile and volatile in the region, this is the right moment to enter into negotiations to promote peace and stability in the region," he said.
He urged both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize the "need to rebuild momentum" and "not to miss the opportunity" offered by the Jordanian king to resume their negotiations which took place during the month of January, but to no avail.
"Goodwill gestures and positive facts on the ground will go a long way toward setting the stage for progress in the negotiations," he noted.
Ban reiterated his position that the Palestinian Fatah-Hamas reconciliation accord signed in Doha, Qatar, earlier this week and President Abbas' negotiations with Israel "need not be mutually exclusive." On the tense situation between Sudan and South Sudan, Ban said "I am deeply concerned about the lack of progress in negotiations on post-independence issues" and that the unilateral decisions taken by both governments over their oil dispute and their increasingly hostile rhetoric, "could easily escalate militarily." He expressed hope that the parties will reach agreement on all outstanding issues during the talks scheduled to resume in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Friday.
"The moment has come for both Heads of State to display once again the leadership that brought them to amicably agree on the secession - and to make the necessary compromise that will guarantee a peaceful and prosperous future for both nations," Ban said.
South Sudan became independent from Sudan last July.(end) sj.wsa KUNA 090917 Feb 12NNNN