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| Kofi Annan, seventh Secretary-General of the UN, attended the ceremony at which his portrait was unveiled to join the gallery of portraits of his predecessors at UN Headquarters. The painting is the work of the artist John Keane. October 2010. (Click on picture) |
Click here to read the official report.
هنا نسخة عن النص الكامل باللغة العربية لتقرير بان كي مون حول ميزانية مهمة كوفي أنان للعام 2012.
General
Assembly
Office
of the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of
Arab States on the Syrian Crisis
($7,488,000)
Background, mandate and objective
1. Peaceful demonstrations calling for greater freedoms and democratic reforms started in March 2011 in some cities in the Syrian Arab Republic and rapidly grew into a large-scale, anti-Government protest movement across many parts of the country. Further escalation of the violence took place as some of the opposition groups resorted to armed action. There have also been terrorist attacks, most recently in Damascus on 17 March 2012 and in Aleppo on 18 March 2012, for which a known terrorist group claimed responsibility.
Background, mandate and objective
1. Peaceful demonstrations calling for greater freedoms and democratic reforms started in March 2011 in some cities in the Syrian Arab Republic and rapidly grew into a large-scale, anti-Government protest movement across many parts of the country. Further escalation of the violence took place as some of the opposition groups resorted to armed action. There have also been terrorist attacks, most recently in Damascus on 17 March 2012 and in Aleppo on 18 March 2012, for which a known terrorist group claimed responsibility.
2.
The Security Council issued a presidential statement on 3 August 2011
(S/PRST/2011/16) condemning widespread human rights violations and
the use of force against civilians. The Council called for an
immediate end to all violence, urged all sides to act with the utmost
restraint and refrain from reprisals, including attacks against State
institutions, and noted the slow pace of the reforms announced by the
Government. The Human Rights Council has adopted a number of
resolutions strongly condemning the continued widespread and
systematic violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The
General Assembly joined in condemnation of the human rights
violations in its resolution 66/176.
3.
Regional and international stakeholders have continued to search for
a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The League of Arab States has
actively considered the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic since
its ministerial extraordinary meeting on 27 August 2011. On 2
November 2011, the League adopted a Plan of Action calling for a
cessation of violence and the withdrawal of the military and tanks
from cities, as well as the release of political prisoners. On 16
November 2011, the League decided to deploy an observer mission to
the Syrian Arab Republic to oversee the implementation of the Plan.
The mission was deployed on 27 December 2011. In its resolution
66/176, the General Assembly called on the Secretary-General to
provide support, if requested, to the League of Arab States observer
mission.
4.
On 22 January 2012, the Council of Ministers of the League of Arab
States adopted a new resolution demanding that the Government of the
Syrian Arab Republic implement its plan of action of 2 November 2011
and calling for a dialogue under its auspices between the Syrian
authorities and the Syrian opposition groups. The resolution also
called for a government of national unity to prepare elections for a
constituent assembly. It tasked the Secretary-General of the League
of Arab States to appoint a special envoy to follow the political
process. It also requested the Chair of the Arab Ministerial
Committee on the Situation in Syria and the Secretary-General of the
League of Arab States to brief the Security Council in support of the
League’s Plan of Action, which they did on 31 January 2012.
5.
On 12 February 2012, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the League
of Arab States adopted a new resolution reiterating their calls on
the Syrian authorities to end the violence and implement the League’s
previous decisions. They ended the mandate of the League of Arab
States observer mission, which had been suspended since 28 January
2012 because of heightened concerns for the safety of the observers.
They called on the Security Council to take action.
6.
On 16 February 2012, the General Assembly adopted resolution 66/253,
which endorsed the League’s Plan of Action of 2 November 2011 and
its decisions of 22 January and 12 February 2012. The resolution
called for an inclusive Syrian-led political process, conducted in an
environment free from violence, fear, intimidation and extremism and
aimed at effectively addressing the legitimate aspirations and
concerns of the Syrian people, without prejudging the outcome. The
Assembly also called for safe and unhindered access for humanitarian
assistance. In that regard, the Assembly requested the
Secretary-General and all relevant United Nations bodies to support
the efforts of the League of Arab States, both through good offices
aimed at promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis,
including through the appointment of a Special Envoy, and through
technical and material assistance, in consultation with the League.
7.
In that context, on 23 February, based on General Assembly resolution
66/253, the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the League
of Arab States announced the appointment of Kofi Annan as the Joint
Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on
the Syrian Crisis. Further to an oral presentation by the Secretariat
if the United Nations to the General Assembly on 16 February, before
the adoption of resolution 66/253, the Office of the Joint Special
Envoy is currently being established in Geneva to support the efforts
of the Envoy.
8.
The objectives of the Joint Special Envoy include:
(a)
Provision of good offices aimed at bringing an end to all violence
and human rights violations, and promoting a peaceful solution to the
Syrian crisis, in support of the efforts of the League of Arab
States. The Joint Special Envoy will consult broadly and engage with
all stakeholders, including neighbouring States and other relevant
countries. He will engage the Syrian authorities, Syrian opposition
groups and other key civil society organizations. In consultation
with the Under- Secretary-General for Political Affairs, he will
advise the two Secretaries-General on options for a plan of action
aimed at helping to end the violence and launching an inclusive
Syrian-led political process, without prejudging its outcome but
aimed at facilitating a transition to a democratic, plural political
system in which citizens are equal regardless of their affiliations
or ethnicities or beliefs. He will stand ready, if requested, to
undertake mediation and other special assignments;
(b)
Working with all relevant United Nations entities and the League of
Arab States to end the violence and promote a political solution;
(c)
Undertaking broad consultations on the immediate political, socio-
economic and security situation, as well as on the humanitarian and
wider dimensions of the crisis. As appropriate, the Joint Special
Envoy will also support efforts led by the Emergency Relief
Coordinator aimed at securing safe and unhindered access for
humanitarian assistance to be delivered to persons in need. The Joint
Special Envoy will also address human rights issues, as required. He
will liaise as appropriate with the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian
Coordinator in the Syrian Arab Republic and the country team, and
provide political guidance to them, while drawing on their analysis;
(d)
As appropriate, briefing the General Assembly and other relevant
United Nations bodies, as well as the Ministerial Council and the
Ministerial Follow-up Committee of the League of Arab States.
9.
On 21 March 2012, the Security Council issued a presidential
statement (S/PRST/2012/6) expressing full support for the efforts of
the Joint Special Envoy to bring an immediate end to all violence and
human rights violations, secure humanitarian access and facilitate a
Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political
system in which citizens are equal regardless of their affiliations
or ethnicities or beliefs, including through commencing a
comprehensive political dialogue between the Government of the Syrian
Arab Republic and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition. The
presidential statement expressed full support for the initial
six-point proposal submitted by the Envoy to the Syrian authorities
on 11 March 2012, and called upon the Government and opposition to
work in good faith with the Envoy towards a peaceful settlement of
the crisis and to implement the initial six-point proposal. The
Security Council also requested the Envoy to provide regular updates
on his progress.
10.
The situation in the Syrian Arab Republic presents a serious
challenge for the United Nations. The political crisis continues to
worsen and the human rights situation continues to deteriorate, while
the stalemate between the Government and the opposition has not been
broken. Although the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic
reiterates its commitment to make political reforms, violence against
protesters continues.
Cooperation
with other entities
11.
The primary task of the Joint Special Envoy is the provision of the
good offices of the Secretary-General in the search of a solution to
the Syrian crisis. While his office is dealing primarily with
political issues, the Envoy will draw upon necessary expertise from
across the United Nations system. In this regard, the Department of
Political Affairs and United Nations Development Programme are
co-chairing an inter-agency task force that aims to bring all
relevant United Nations entities under one umbrella in support of
resolving the crisis. In addition, administrative support and office
premises for the Office of the Envoy are provided by the United
Nations Office at Geneva.
Performance
information
12.
The Joint Special Envoy was appointed on 23 February 2012 and his key
staff was recruited in March 2012. The Department of Political
Affairs has assigned two officers to provide immediate support to the
Joint Special Envoy. In March 2012, the Joint Special Envoy visited
Cairo, Damascus, Qatar, Ankara, Moscow and Beijing to consult key
stakeholders in the implementation of his mandate. His efforts have
been aimed at achieving the goals outlined by the Joint Special Envoy
in his aide- memoire of 11 March 2012 to the Government of the Syrian
Arab Republic.
Planning
assumptions for 2012
13.
The effective discharge of the activities of the Joint Special Envoy
will require international staff to support his Office, liaise with
all relevant actors and manage the day-to-day activities. The staff
will have an official base in Geneva and travel regularly to the
field to liaise with relevant actors.
14.
Security conditions will allow for a continuation of the operations
of the Office of the Joint Special Envoy on the ground. The
Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, Syrian opposition groups and
regional and international stakeholders will continue to support the
efforts of the Joint Special Envoy. The Security Council will also
continue to express confidence and support in his efforts.
15. The objectives, expected accomplishments and indicators of achievement for 2012 are presented below (Attached document).
Objective: To achieve through peaceful means a political solution to the crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic, which will meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people to dignity, freedom and justice, based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination.
• Provision of good offices and consultations with all internal, regional and international parties concerned aimed at finding a solution to the Syrian crisis.
• Regular visits to Damascus and other capitals to promote a political solution to the Syrian crisis.
• Advice to all Syrian stakeholders on best practices for reaching a negotiated solution, including on practical arrangements for the cessation of hostilities and other matters.
• 3 training workshops on negotiation processes for relevant stakeholders.
• As appropriate, facilitation of negotiations between relevant parties to reach an agreement to end the crisis and put forward a political solution acceptable to all concerned.
• Regular updates to the Security Council on the progress of the mission of the Joint Special Envoy.
• Public awareness-raising initiatives of the Joint Special Envoy, including public statements (30) stressing the importance of political dialogue, an end to violence and human rights violations, and humanitarian access.
•
Regular
briefings to the diplomatic community, including members of the
General Assembly, the Security Council and the League of Arab States,
on the political/security situation in the Syrian Arab Republic and
the efforts of the Joint Special Envoy
External
factors
16.
The objectives would be achieved on the assumption that all domestic,
regional and international stakeholders will fully cooperate with the
Office of the Joint Special Envoy.
Resource
requirements (Thousands of United States dollars) (Attached document).
17.
The estimated requirements for the Office of the Joint Special Envoy
of the United Nations and the League of Arab States for the Syrian
Crisis for the 10-month period ending 31 December 2012 amount to
$7,488,000 net ($7,932,200 gross) and will provide for salaries and
common staff costs for 18 positions ($3,022,300), as well as
operational costs ($4,465,700), comprising consultancies ($165,700),
official travel ($1,590,500), and facilities and infrastructure
($578,400); ground transportation ($100,200); air transportation
($750,000); communications ($94,800) and information technology
($135,700); and other supplies, services and equipment ($1,050,400).
Of the non-post items, $111,800 relates to one-time expenditures for
the refurbishment of office space ($30,000) and provision of
information technology and other equipment ($81,800).
18.
The initial resource requirements for the Office of the Joint Special
Envoy were funded through the unforeseen and extraordinary
expenditures mechanism of the Secretary-General. Since the initial
funding was intended as a bridging mechanism, the resource
requirement for the entire 10-month period is requested in the
present report.
19.
Extra budgetary resources have been allocated for three Political
Affairs Officers (P-5, P-4, P-3) for six months to provide
backstopping within the Department of Political Affairs, and for a
general temporary assistance position for a Senior Adviser for three
months, based in Geneva. (Attached document).
20.
The Office of the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the
League of Arab States for the Syrian Crisis comprises 11 substantive
international staff (1 USG, 2 ASG, 2 D-2, 2 P-5, 2 P-4, 2 P-3), one
Senior Administrative Officer (P-5), one Administrative Assistant
(General Service, Principal level), one Personal Assistant (General
Service, Principal level), three Team Assistants (General Service,
Other level) and one Security Officer (General Service, Other level).
21.
In addition to the existing staffing above, expertise would be made
available from the Department of Political Affairs, the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations and the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs to complement the Joint Special Envoy’s team
as and when required.
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