All news

Action Group to put pressure on both sides to Syrian conflict – Annan

A decision to form a transitional governance body in Syria is a key result of the conference
Photo EPA/NASA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/NASA/ITAR-TASS

GENEVA, July 1 (Itar-Tass) —— The Action Group on Syria will put pressure on all the sides to the Syrian conflict, UN/LAS Special Envoy Kofi Annan said upon the end of the international conference in Geneva on Saturday.

A decision to form a transitional governance body in Syria is a key result of the conference. Annan said the new body would have executive powers and might include members of the incumbent government, the opposition and other groups. He added though that a decision on the membership of the new body and the future of President Bashar al-Asad must be taken by the people of Syria.

Annan said it would be premature to speak about a possible date and venue of the next conference on Syria. He said that would depend on further developments in the turbulent country. The Action Group would convene if necessary, Anna remarked.

Concerning the UN monitoring mission, which had suspended activity in Syria due to the escalated violence, Annan said, the monitors would resume their work as soon as that was possible. He also said that the UN Security Council would consider the future of the mission, whose current mandate expired in late July. He said the evaluation would be done very quickly, within the next couple of weeks.

Annan did not rule out he might visit Syria again.