UN Syria mission to end

The UN Security Council has announced it wont be renewing the mandate of its observer mission in Syria.

The move comes just days before the current team ends its operation.

Gerard Araud, French Ambassador to the UN said:
“By definition, the mandate of UNSMIS ends Aug 19 so if you don’t renew the mandate, the mandate is over. But what’s most important is there will be a UN presence, and we hope, a useful UN presence.”

The observer mission was a crucial part of Kofi Annan’s peace plan but its renewal conditions have not been met.

Russia had repeatedly called for them to remain but the United States opposed the move arguing government forces had failed to stop their onslaught.

Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the permanent Security Council members – Russia, China, the United States, France and Britain – and key regional players would meet on Syria in New York on Friday morning.

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