Kofi Annan quit as the UN special envoy to Syria

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 2 August 2012 stepped down as the UN special envoy to Syria. Annan formally informed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Nabil El Araby about his decision. His appointment for the high-profile as the UN peace interlocutor was set to expire on 31 August 2012.

Annan was appointed the UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria in February 2012. A formidable diplomat Annan was assigned with the task to explore for the peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis and secure a peaceful transition of the regime.

Kofi Annan right after taking over the charge as the special envoy to Syria came up with a six-point peace plan to stop violent struggle in the Syria. The peace plan which was submitted to UN Security Council comprised of following points:

1. Working with international envoy to secure peaceful political transition in the country by taking into account of the legitimate aspirations and concerns of Syrian people
2. End to violence by all sides; army troops to stop using heavy weapons and withdraw to barracks
3. Permission for humanitarian assistance particularly for the areas worst hit by violence
4. Accelerate the pace of release of detainees who were detained arbitrarily by the present government
5. Ensuring freedom of movement for journalists
6. Permission to the citizens for peaceful demonstrations

Kofi Annan, who was named the special envoy to Syria given his extra ordinary credential as a diplomat, starkly failed to restore peace in the war-torn nation. His failure in making Bashar-al-Assad led Syrian regime fall in line caused major disappointment for the peace initiatives in the country. Besides, he also failed miserably in attempt to get all the super powers on one platform as Russia and China two veto-wielding nations in UN Security Council vehemently opposed the western plan of peace in Syria.

An estimated 20000 people have already lost their lives in one of the most violent chapter of Arab Spring, which took the entire Arab world by strom in 2011. The unrelenting bloodshed is now on the verge of morphing into a civil war, which could prove to be more troublesome for the global community.