This is Kofi Annan's letter tho the Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem dated on March 27, 2012.
Annan in this letter (Pages 1 and 2) urged the Syrian Government to take immediate steps to implement the six points plan. He also stated that he would seek similar commitment from the opposition and all relevant elements to stop the fighting.
(Page 1)
Thank you for your letter of 25
March 2012. I am glad to have received the agreement of the Syrian Arab
Republic to my six points plan, which has received the full endorsement of the
United Nations Security Council. I look forward to your Government moving now
to put the following commitments into immediate effect:
1- Commit to with with the Special Envoy in an inclusive Syrian-led
political process to address the legitimate aspirations and concerns of the
people. To this end, commit to appoint an empowered interlocutor when invited
to do so by the Special Envoy.
2- Agree
to stop fighting and achieve urgently an effective UN-supervised cessation of
armed violence in all its forms by all parties to protect civilians and
stabilize the country. To this end, the Syrian Arab Republic agrees to:
a-
Cease troop movement
towards population centers;
b-
No use of heavy weapons
in population centers;
c-
Begin pullback of military
concentrations in and around population centers;
d-
Work with the Special
Envoy to bring about a sustained cessation of armed violence in all its forms
by all parties with an effective UN supervision mechanism.
The Special Envoy will seek a
similar commitment from the opposition and all relevant elements to stop the
fighting and work with the Special Envoy to bring about a sustained cessation
of armed violence in all its forms by all parties with an effective UN
supervision and monitoring mechanism by the United Nations, the specifics of
which will be contained in a Protocol to be agreed upon. The Government will
work with the United Nations to ensure that this is implemented with all speed.
His Excellency
Mr. Walid al-Moallem
Minister of Foreign and …
Affairs
Of the Syrian Arab Republic
Damascus
(Page 2)
3- Ensure
timely provision of humanitarian assistance to all areas affected by this
fighting. To this end, as immediate steps:
a-
Accept and implement a
daily two hour-humanitarian pause.
b-
Coordinate the exact
time and modalities of the daily pause through and efficient liaison mechanism,
including on the ground.
4-
Take
the following steps concerning all persons detained arbitrarily …
to the recent incidents:
a-
Provide without delay ICRC full access
to all places in which such persons are being detained.
b-
Release such
persons and work closely with the ICRC.
5-
Ensure freedom of movement throughout the country for
journalists, and grant visas facility for them in accordance with Syrian
regulations.
6-
Respect freedom of association and the right to demonstrate peacefully
as legally guaranteed.
I your letter, Excellency, you provide comments of certain
aspects of implementation of my proposals. I remain of the view that my six
points plan, as explained to your Government, is clear in its requirements,
including as regards the steps the Syrian authorities should take immediately.
In addition, as explained by my team, the State’s right to respond to Armed
Violence must be in conformity with the principle of proportionality and the
obligation not to endanger civilian life.
I am grateful that woth the assistance of the Deputy Foreign
Minister, we have succeded in agreeing on these important fist steps,
implementation will be key, not only for the Syrian people but for the region
and the international community as a whole. Once again, Excellency, I look
forward to working with your Government to implement all aspects of my six
point plan.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurance of my highest
consideration,
Kofi Annan
Joint Special Envoy for Syria
