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Top of the Agenda: Annan Named Envoy on Syria; 'Friends of Syria' Gather in Tunisia
The United Nations and the Arab League appointed former UN secretary general Kofi Annan to be a joint special envoy on Syria. Annan has been charged with finding an "inclusive political solution" (al-Jazeera) to the Syrian regime's deadly year-long crackdown on anti-government protesters and opposition forces. The decision comes as diplomats from more than sixty countries are meeting in Tunis for a "Friends of Syria" conference, which is expected to call on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to cease all violence and allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid. Both the opposition Syrian National Council and the National Coordination Committee are participating in the talks.
Analysis
"Unlike in Libya, Russia's support of Assad has until now seemed solid. And unlike the Libyan rebels last year, several Syrian opposition figures say they oppose Western military intervention. The U.S., European and Arab diplomats converging on Tunis for Friday's meetings are instead focused on tightening Western sanctions and increasing their support for opposition groups," writes TIME's Vivienne Walt.
"Tunisia's approach to the Syrian uprising is also a sign of a more self-confident country seeking to reposition itself overseas as well as at home. With Syria facing a long, grim battle ahead, Egypt's revolution only half-complete, and Libya too preoccupied with internal strife to play much of a regional role, Tunisia is slowly starting to flex its modest but newly democratic muscles," writes Alex Warren on ForeignPolicy.com.
"Western powers will need to start preparing the groundwork for backing their diplomatic carrots with increased sticks. This means that the policy, reiterated yet again last week by NATO secretary general Anders Rasmussen, rejecting force or assistance with UN-mandated humanitarian assistance, must be reversed," writes CFR's Robert Danin on his blog "Middle East Matters."
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