Annan Slams Non-Peaceful Advocators in Syrian Crisis

Former UN Secretary-General and former UN Envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan considered that his successor, al-Akhdar al-Ibrahimi did not receive the needed support and help required to successfully mediate the Syrian crisis, criticizing anti-mediation countries that lack the courage of proposing an alternative.

In Annan’s new book signing entitled, “Interventions: A Life in War and Peace”, he stated, “al-Ibrahimi did not receive the support he required,” adding, “There are people who do not believe in mediation and do not believe in the political process.”
“Those who are saying mediation is a waste of time have offered no alternative,” he added.

Annan further underscored, “meanwhile, weapons and militiamen are going into Syria,” indicating, “no one knows where these weapons are going.”
Moreover, he refused the pretext that states, “Mediation gives President Assad more time and extends the war.”

“This is the only war I have seen where people pray: we don’t attempt to stop it, we don’t attempt to protect people, we don’t attempt to negotiate,” Annan stated.
Furthermore, he mentioned, “Frankly, there might be many Syrians who are not with President Assad, but do not know what the opposition will bring and what the future holds.”

Annan called on the people who wish to cease the bloodshed in Syria to raise their voices, adding, “There is a lack of leadership in the community,” implicating the American and Russian Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin.
Likewise, Annan reiterated, “[many countries] gave us verbal support on one hand, and sold weapons to the opposition on the other, and bid on the opposition militarily settling battles in a year, however a year has passed and matters were not settled,” underscoring, “these countries did not adopt solutions honestly.”