The Secretary-General strongly welcomes the unanimous decision of the Security Council to authorize a United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) for an initial period of 90 days. Deployments will proceed expeditiously, subject to his assessment of developments on the ground, including the consolidation of the cessation of violence.
The Secretary-General calls upon the Government of Syria and other parties swiftly to create the conditions necessary for the deployment of the mission. He stresses the need for the Government of Syria to end all violence and human rights violations, and in particular to stop the use of heavy weapons and to withdraw such weapons and armed units from population centres.
The Secretary-General expects the Government of Syria to ensure the effective operation of UNSMIS, including full, unimpeded, and immediate freedom of movement and access, unobstructed communications and the safety of the mission. The Secretary-General looks forward to an expeditious Agreement between the Government of Syria and the UN on appropriate air transportation assets as underlined by the Council.
The Secretary-General calls for full cooperation by all to allow UNSMIS to implement its mandate as given: to monitor a cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties and to monitor and support the full implementation of the Joint Special Envoy’s six-point proposal. The Secretary-General stresses that this is critical to create the conditions for a political solution that will ensure the equal and fundamental rights and freedoms of all Syrians.
The challenges on the ground are serious. Too many lives have been lost. The gross violations of the fundamental rights of the Syrian people must stop at once. The efforts of Joint Special Envoy have been instrumental in forging a way forward and will continue to be. The Secretary-General hopes that the establishment of UNSMIS, with the united and determined support of the Security Council, will help stop the killing and suffering in Syria, and contribute to move the country towards pluralism and democracy.