The UN team led by Kofi Annan wants "concrete gestures" from Damascus on “halting the violence”
The UN team led by Kofi Annan wants "concrete gestures" from Damascus on “halting the violence”, his deputy said on W
ednesday.
Jean-Marie Guehenno spoke to reporters in Geneva following a video briefing to the United Nations Security Council.
"After 15 months of violence, only strong signals will have an impact, small diplomatic steps will not suffice," Guehenno said. "The government of Syria needs to take steps to convince the international community and more importantly the Syrian people that it is ready for a new course.”
"This needs to be done through concrete and significant gestures on the cessation of violence and on detainees and humanitarian access.” "As Mr. Annan has said, we are at a tipping point."
Guehenno, a former UN peacekeeping chief who returned from a six-day visit to Syria last week, said it was vital that the armed opposition also lay down their weapons.
"All Syrians must convince themselves that guns cannot be the solution," he said. "Only political negotiations as envisaged in the six-point plan can restore genuine peace to the country."
