Brussels, 02/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 2 July, Cypriot Deputy Minister for European Affairs Andreas Mavroyiannis spoke of his country's concerns on the way Turkey is dealing with the Syrian crisis. “We are concerned that the Turks are trying to instrumentalise this democratic process both internally and at Arab Spring level to forward certain proposals. We all know that the Christian community in the region needs to be taken into account”, he explained. The minister added that this did not mean “that we must not discuss the matter with Turkey. We must discuss it with all partners who can play an important role, but we need to be very careful, be clear on what we are hoping for, respond to the aspirations of the people who live there”, adding that “one minority must not be sacrificed for the benefit of another”.
Disappointing agreement on transition. In Geneva on Saturday 30 June, the members of the action group on Syria - the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (France, the United Kingdom, the United States, China and Russia), Turkey and the countries representing the Arab League - agreed on the principles of a transition in Syria. This agreement provides for a “transitional government” which will “exercise legislative powers” and which may “include members of the current government and the opposition and other groups, and must be formed on the basis of mutual agreement”, Kofi Annan said.
Welcoming the “outcome” of the meeting, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs said that the agreement concluded “offers concrete points for action.” “I hope that this will help to put an end to the violence and to launch a political process in Syria, led by the Syrians”, Catherine Ashton added, reiterating her full support for Annan and his six-point plan.
Disappointment in Syria. On Sunday 1 July, the official Syrian press and that of the opposition described the agreement as a failure. In a press release, the Syrian National Council (SNC) laments the fact that the agreement contains “no clear mechanism or timetable”. “No initiative will be accepted by the Syrian people unless it clearly calls for Bashar al-Assad and the tyrants who surround him to step down”, the SNC added.
The country's official press described the agreement as a”failure”. “The Syrians are capable of engaging in national dialogue in which there is no place for neighbouring countries and other countries further afield”, said the newspaper of the party in power, al-Baas.
The members of the action group themselves disagree over the interpretation of their agreement. The United States and France take the view that it paves the way for the “post-Assad” era, whereas China and Russia feel that it is up to the Syrians to choose their own future. (CG/transl.fl)