More than a year into the bloody uprising in Syria, a fragile peace is now in place after Thursday's deadline. The deadline was part of Kofi Annan's six-point plan which stated that there should be a cessation of violence on Thursday.
However, Assad's regime remains in breach of the six-point plan and armoured vehicles still remain in the populated areas of Syria. The humanitarian issues have still to be addressed with many left homeless and without medical care due to the on-going war.
Thursday was seen as a positive step in the right direction but whether this can continue into a political dialogue or whether the situation in Syria will become a fight to the end remains to be seen. However for now there is a relative peace which many did not think was possible, and the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan should be given credit for negotiating the plan.
World leaders continue to put pressure on the regime to implement the rest of this six-point plan and sanctions against Syria continue. UN monitors are due on the ground soon and they will see for themselves if the cessation of violence is being adhered to.
Commenting in a press release on Thursday, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
Today's lessening of violence in Syria is a first fragile step towards peace that needs to be strengthened and sustained. I urge the Assad regime to implement fully its undertakings to the Joint Arab League and UN Special Envoy on Syria, including withdrawing troops and weaponry from residential areas. The Syrian government has a record of failing to keep its promises. It has the opportunity to change that now: it should seize it. We need to see visible, verifiable and indisputable signs of change. The opposition must also ensure that they adhere to the ceasefire and work to strengthen and broaden it."
“The international community will support this process. We urgently need to see monitors in Syria to assess implementation. It is crucial that their remit allows them freedom of movement and access. We are working closely on this at the United Nations."
“We continue to support the work of Kofi Annan and will keep up the pressure on the Syrian government to implement in full the six point plan including the move towards a political transition which will bring the Syrian people the greater freedoms they deserve.”
However, Assad's regime remains in breach of the six-point plan and armoured vehicles still remain in the populated areas of Syria. The humanitarian issues have still to be addressed with many left homeless and without medical care due to the on-going war.
Thursday was seen as a positive step in the right direction but whether this can continue into a political dialogue or whether the situation in Syria will become a fight to the end remains to be seen. However for now there is a relative peace which many did not think was possible, and the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan should be given credit for negotiating the plan.
World leaders continue to put pressure on the regime to implement the rest of this six-point plan and sanctions against Syria continue. UN monitors are due on the ground soon and they will see for themselves if the cessation of violence is being adhered to.
Commenting in a press release on Thursday, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
Today's lessening of violence in Syria is a first fragile step towards peace that needs to be strengthened and sustained. I urge the Assad regime to implement fully its undertakings to the Joint Arab League and UN Special Envoy on Syria, including withdrawing troops and weaponry from residential areas. The Syrian government has a record of failing to keep its promises. It has the opportunity to change that now: it should seize it. We need to see visible, verifiable and indisputable signs of change. The opposition must also ensure that they adhere to the ceasefire and work to strengthen and broaden it."
“The international community will support this process. We urgently need to see monitors in Syria to assess implementation. It is crucial that their remit allows them freedom of movement and access. We are working closely on this at the United Nations."
“We continue to support the work of Kofi Annan and will keep up the pressure on the Syrian government to implement in full the six point plan including the move towards a political transition which will bring the Syrian people the greater freedoms they deserve.”
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