Kofi Annan, the special envoy of the United Nations and Arab League who has sought unsuccessfully for months to resolve the Syria conflict, submitted his resignation on Thursday, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said.
[h=6]Fabrice Coffrini/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images[/h]Kofi Annan after a meeting at the United Nations in Geneva in July.
In a statement, Mr. Ban said Mr. Annan had informed him “of his intention not to renew his mandate” when it expires at the end of August.
Mr. Annan grew increasingly frustrated over his failure to achieve even a basic cease-fire in the conflict, which began as a peaceful uprising against President Bashar al-Assad 17 months ago and has been steadily sliding toward civil war.
Despite a pledge from Mr. Assad to abide by a six-point peace plan brokered by Mr. Annan more than four months ago, the Syrian government has never implemented the plan.
“Tragically, the spiral of violence in Syria is continuing,” Mr. Ban said in his statement announcing Mr. Annan’s resignation. “The hand extended to turn away from violence in favor of dialogue and diplomacy — as spelled out in the Six-Point Plan — has not been taken, even though it still remains the best hope for the people of Syria.”
[h=6]Fabrice Coffrini/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images[/h]Kofi Annan after a meeting at the United Nations in Geneva in July.
In a statement, Mr. Ban said Mr. Annan had informed him “of his intention not to renew his mandate” when it expires at the end of August.
Mr. Annan grew increasingly frustrated over his failure to achieve even a basic cease-fire in the conflict, which began as a peaceful uprising against President Bashar al-Assad 17 months ago and has been steadily sliding toward civil war.
Despite a pledge from Mr. Assad to abide by a six-point peace plan brokered by Mr. Annan more than four months ago, the Syrian government has never implemented the plan.
“Tragically, the spiral of violence in Syria is continuing,” Mr. Ban said in his statement announcing Mr. Annan’s resignation. “The hand extended to turn away from violence in favor of dialogue and diplomacy — as spelled out in the Six-Point Plan — has not been taken, even though it still remains the best hope for the people of Syria.”