U.N.-Arab League Syria envoy for Syria Kofi Annan said Tuesday that the small collection of monitors in Syria have had a soothing effect that are meant to grow because the mission fully deploys.
He told the U.N. Security Council that there was a limited reduction within the use of heavy weapons and violence is down in some areas, though the killing has not stopped on each side.
Annan briefed the 15-nation council in a closed meeting via a video link from Geneva. Afterwards he painted a mixed picture for reporters.
“There have been some decrease within the military activities, but there are still serious violations within the cessation of violence that was agreed and the extent of violence and abuses are unacceptable," he said.
"Government troops and armor are still present, though in smaller formations," he said. "There were worrying episodes of violence by the federal government, but we have now also seen attacks against government forces, troops and installations. And there were a spate of bombings that are really worrying.â€
But Annan said the force of about 60 unarmed military observers now in Syria is having a favorable effect.
“The presence of observers, and in situations where they've intervened specifically, haven't only had a chilled effect, but sometimes they've been in a position to get the forces involved to do the appropriate thing,†he said.
The United Nations hopes to have the entire mission of 300 monitors and 100 civilian support staff deployed to Syria by the tip of this month.
Rights abuses continue
Annan acknowledged that although unacceptable human rights abuses continue and all six points of his peace plan haven't been implemented, there is not any other option instantly.
“I also told members of the council that i think that the U.N. supervision mission is possibly the one remaining chance to stabilize the rustic," he said. "And i'm sure i'm really not telling you any secret, once I let you know that there's a profound concern that the rustic could otherwise descend into full civil war and the results of which might be quite frightening. We can't allow that to happen.â€
After Annan's briefing, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said the us desires to see his mission succeed, but added that the onus is at the Syrian government to create the conditions for that to happen. She said Washington is targeted on increasing pressure on Damascus and on President Bashar al-Assad to step down.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin was more upbeat, saying the placement is moving in a favorable direction and that obstacles could be overcome.
Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said his government's commitment to the six-point plan is essentially chargeable for the development within the situation.
He cautioned that Damascus is facing difficulties from some Arab, regional and international powers, however, who he said try to undermine the U.N. mission in the course of the financing and arming of rebels and armed groups.
Syrian rights activists say government troops killed at the least six people in fighting across the country on Tuesday. Casualties couldn't be independently confirmed. Syrian rebels even have staged regular attacks on Assad's forces because the truce took effect.
In late March the United Nations estimated that 9,000 people have been killed during Syria's conflict. It has not raised its assessment of the death toll since then. However the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says nearly 12,000 people were killed prior to now 14 months.
Red Cross to go to prison
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross says that Syrian authorities will allow its aid workers to go to Aleppo Central Prison within the coming days.
The ICRC president announced resumption of the prison visits, that have been stalled since September, while appealing for more money to supply humanitarian assistance in Syria.
Jakob Kellenberger said ICRC delegates will visit Central Aleppo prison between May 14 and 23. He said he received Syria's agreement during his last trip to Damascus in April.
This would be the second prison visit by ICRC delegates in Syria. The 1st was at Damascus Central Prison last September.
But further visits were then blocked by disagreements between the Red Cross and Syrian government in regards to the terms of the visits. Kellenberger said the problem now was resolved. He said the visit to Aleppo's prison is a crucial step, which may bring about visits to other prisons.
"For those who visit the reformatory, you would like to see all parts of that prison," he said. "In case you visit a reformatory, you should have talks without witnesses, with someone you must have talks without witnesses. And anybody who wish to have talks with you without witnesses also needs to be allowed to have talks without witnesses."
Kellenberger said the ICRC is anxious in regards to the worsening humanitarian situation in Syria, where thousands of folk were killed and tens of thousands are displaced, 14 months after the conflict began.
The ICRC is appealing for one more $27 million to lift its humanitarian assistance for thousands of individuals until the top of the year. Kellenberger said last year, the ICRC was planning to offer food assistance to two,000 people per 30 days. But now, he said the agency is feeding about 100,000 people every month.
"The variety of those who have very basic needs when it comes to food and non-food has increased greatly," he said.
Lisa Schlein, in Geneva, contributed to this report.
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