UNSC backs Annan's peace efforts in Syria

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Wednesday voiced "full support" for the peace efforts in Syria of Kofi Annan, the UN and Arab League joint special envoy.

The 15-nation Security Council adopted a presidential statement to welcome the February 23 appointment of Annan for the United Nations and the Arab League.

The council said it fully supports Annan's efforts "to bring an immediate end to all violence and human rights violations, secure humanitarian access, and facilitate a Syrian-led political transition" in Syria.

The presidential statement, unlike Security Council resolutions, is not legally binding and was adopted by consensus.

Annan, the former UN secretary-general, met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad twice and Syrian opposition leaders in and outside Syria during his visit to the Middle East earlier this month.

He asked both the Syrian government and the opposition to stop fighting immediately, ensure unhindered access of the humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people in need, and the early launch of the political process aimed at the political settlement of the Syrian crisis.

"The Security Council calls upon the Syrian government and opposition to work in good faith with the envoy towards a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis and to implement his initial six-point proposal," the statement said.

A presidential statement, unlike Security Council resolutions, is not legally binding and adopted by 15 council members by consensus. The adoption of a resolution requires nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the five permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

"The Security Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter," the statement said.

"The Security Council expresses its gravest concern at the deteriorating situation in Syria which has resulted in a serious human rights crisis and a deplorable humanitarian situation," the statement said. "The Security Council expresses its profound regret the death of many thousands of people in Syria."

The UN recently said that more than 8,000 people had been killed in the year-long turmoil in Syria, while Damascus said that more than 2,000 army and security personnel had been killed by "armed terrorist groups."

Meanwhile, the presidential statement also expressed Security Council support for Annan's efforts to "commit to work with the envoy in an inclusive Syrian-led political process to address the legitimate aspirations and concerns of the Syrian people."

The Security Council supports Annan's efforts to "commit to stop the fighting and achieve urgently an effective United Nations supervised cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties to protect civilians and stabilize the country," the statement said.

The Security Council supports the efforts of Annan to "ensure timely provision of humanitarian assistance to all areas affected b the fighting, and to this end, as immediate steps, to accept and implement a daily two hour humanitarian pause and to coordinate exact time and modalities of the daily pause through an efficient mechanism, including at local level," the statement said.

The Security Council requests Annan "to update the council regularly and in a timely manner on the progress of his mission," the statement added. "In light of these reports, the Security Council will consider further steps as appropriate."