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It is my honour and pleasure to come to the Security Council after seven years. Unfortunately, it is a very grim situation in Syria today. As the President of the Security Council told you, I have briefed as fully as I could about what I had seen and heard during my visit to the region: Damascus, Cairo but also the refugee camps in Jordan and Turkey. We have discussed the situation that exists and also started to discuss the way forward. I have said and repeat again that I do not have a full plan at the moment but have some ideas. I will go back to the region after the General Debate. I have agreed with the Security Council that I will come back as soon as I can with more ideas on how we can move forward. There is no disagreement anywhere that the situation is bad and getting worse. It is a threat to the region and to the peace and security in the world. The Security Council will continue to watch the situation very very closely. I was encouraged by the interest of the members of the Security Council in this situation and by their generous support to this mission that I am starting . Please don’t forget that I started only three weeks ago.
(Repeated by Mr. Brahimi in Arabic and French)
Q: Some diplomats in the meeting said that you gave a down-beat assessment of the situation in Syria. I know that you don’t have a plan, but what are your prospects ? You said the Syrian government is sticking to reforms, can you elaborate?
A: All I can say is that the situation is indeed very difficult. There is a stalemate. There is no prospect for today or tomorrow to move forward. Paradoxically, now that I found out what is happening in Syrian and the region, I think we can find an opening. I don’t think that we can go back to the Syria of the past, I told everyone in Damascus and elsewhere that reform is not enough anymore, and there is a need for change.
Q: Is it possible to know where are your efforts are? Do you plan to visit Russia and China?
A: I have an invitation to visit Russia and China and will be pleased to go. I will especially go those capitals with interests, stakes or both. My efforts did not improve a lot but my encounters with Syrian Government and opposition inside and outside is important and we can build on it.
Q: When will you see Assad next time?
A: Another question
Q: You say that you have no plans but ideas. Can you expand on these ideas and tell us if the six point plan is still part of these ideas?
A: the six point plan and the Action Group communiqué are elements in my tool box. How they will be used, we’ll see later and will tell you later.
Q: Given what you told us and the fact that the eyes of the world will be on the UN this week, does this place special obligations on the Security Council members to do more?
There are indications that the Syrian opposition including the SNC are moving to become more untied than in the past. Do you see these signs coming soon?
A: to answer your second question first. Yes I see signs. Members of the Syrian opposition are still trying, their attempts have been challenging. They will be OK if I say this and their friends are encouraging them. On the first question, the President of the Security Council should answer it. What I said is that if I do no represent the entire Security Council, I am nothing. I need to be seen to represent the united Council and the League of Arab States. Members of the Security Council understand that well.
Q: (Arabic) When you are back to the region, will you go inside Syria or also other countries and will you visit the members of the Regional Quartet initiated by President Morsi? And How did you received the indication of the support of the Security Council in your mission?
A: Your perspective of the Security Council is a bit strong. I will go back to the region and will visit all the capitals with interest, stake or both. All must be part of a solution. I will speak to them here and in the region.
Q: Is there any evidence that members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards have escalated violence between the government and the opposition?
A: I have not been on the street of Damascus long enough to see who is who, I have not seen a sign of anything myself. 