Transcript of the stakeout by Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno,
Deputy Joint Special Envoy (DJSE) of the United Nations and the
League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis

Apologies for keeping you waiting for so long but as you know, I was briefing the Security Council and it was a long discussion because it is an important topic and so here I am.

My briefing focused on the latest efforts of the Joint Special Envoy concerning the situation in Syria. And that included my own mission to the country in preparation of Mr. Annan’s visit. My mission was last week and as you are aware Mr. Annan concluded his visit to Damascus this morning.

During my own trip, I met with government officials as well as a wide range of opposition members, civic and religious leaders. And I visited Damascus, Homs and Ar Rastan.

Mr. Annan is now in Jordan. He is continuing his intensive engagement with regional and international actors because he knows that bringing together the international community is a key aspect of his efforts to facilitate international consensus on the necessary steps towards the implementation of the six-point plan.

This afternoon, I told the Council that the parties need to recommit to a full cessation of violence. We have seen that this cessation of violence is under threat. Today, as the stronger partner, the Government needs to take steps to this end, but it is also vital that the armed opposition be ready to adhere to a full cessation of violence.

As Mr. Annan said, we are at a tipping point. After 15 months of violence, only very strong signals will have an impact. Small diplomatic steps will not suffice. The Government of Syria needs to take steps to convince I would say not only the international community, but more importantly the Syrian people, that it is ready for a new course. This needs to be demonstrated through concrete and significant gestures – on the cessation of violence, of course, but also on detainees and humanitarian access.

Most importantly, all Syrians must convince themselves that guns cannot be the solution. A militarization of conflict will bring enormous suffering to Syria.

The Joint Special Envoy and our whole team are doing everything to ensure that the path for a political solution is open and prepared. Only political negotiations, as envisaged in the six-point plan, can restore genuine peace and stability to the country.

Thank you. I am prepared to take a few questions so the floor is open.

Q: Has the Joint Special Envoy told China and Russia that disregarding UNSMIS’ assessment of atrocities is a sure way to kill the Annan plan?

DJSE: The Joint Special Envoy is in close contact with China, with Russia as well as other members of the P5 and other members of the international community in the region. It is very important. And I said that actually to the Council a moment ago -- and that is one of the contributions of the Mission -- establishing the facts, so that the international community agrees on the facts, is a necessary pre-condition for agreeing on policies. And so it is very important that on this massacre of Houleh, what has been said very clearly by the Mission be accepted by all.

Q: Now a number of Western countries have expelled Syrian diplomats. How do you evaluate the constructiveness of these measures?

DJSE: Well, you know, these are sovereign decisions. I think there has been a lot of emotions around the world, so these countries want to express their outrage. There are different ways in which to do it, that’s their sovereign decision to take that kind of measure. Our own role is different. We have to be able to talk at all times with all the interlocutors and that is what we are doing.

Q: (inaudible questions in French on willingness of President Assad to engage into a political process and on whether Mr. Annan will attend the special session of the Human Rights Council on 1 June)?

DJSE: Monsieur Annan a été très clair dans ses conversations avec le Président Assad, et il l’a dit publiquement: ce qu’il attend de la Syrie, ce sont des gestes audacieux, concrets pour mettre en œuvre le plan en six points. Et donc, je crois qu’il faudra juger aux actes. Il ne s’agit pas de spéculer sur des intentions. Ce sont les actes qui comptent. Monsieur Annan voyage, il ne sera pas là vendredi prochain. Le Conseil des droits de l’Homme, c’est une instance qui a sa fonction institutionnelle, la notre est distincte et il faut donc que chaque processus suive son cours.

Q: Could you assess for us a little bit the mood in the Security Council when you spoke to them this afternoon? The past few days have been pretty dreadful. Is there any sense of optimism that this plan can continue?

DJSE: Well I think, I mean, that is for the members of the Security Council really to convey what their views are. What I can say is that for all members of the Security Council there is an understanding that indeed what is happening is very important and I think what Mr. Annan said about the tipping point – I think that is something that probably most members of the Council would accept. I believe that in the Council there is an understanding that any sliding toward a full-scale civil war in Syria would be catastrophic and the Security Council now needs to have that kind of strategic discussion on how that needs to be avoided. As far as we are concerned, we have made very clear that it is very important that the Security Council be united in pushing for a political process that excludes further deterioration and further slide into violence which, after what happened in Houleh, is indeed a possible prospect.

Q: Will you or Mr. Annan, or any member of your team, be represented at the Special Session of the Human Rights Council on Friday? If not, will you send them a message? And what do you hope for them to achieve?

DJSE: As I said, you know, there are different U.N. bodies, and the Human Rights Council is a very important one, and it is important that the Member States in the Human Rights Council discuss the situation, in particular on the Houleh massacre. It is important that the truth, the facts be established in a way that nobody can challenge. That is essential. Our role is different. And so we will be certainly following what is happening in the Human Rights Council with great interest because it is an important body and the messages it can deliver, the truth it can establish, will be important.

Q: What can you tell us about the third force in Syria? And who is tackling it? Can you tell us anything about the third force?

DJSE: Well, you know, in any situation where there is a risk of civil war you have opportunistic actors, if one can say that, that can try to exploit it. This is being looked at. I do not have myself enough forensic, detailed information to really shed light on that. But if that kind of activity was to further develop in Syria, that would catastrophic for Syria and that would be a serious threat for the United Nations.

Thank you.