By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 28 -- The Free Syrian Army has been reached out to by members of the team of Kofi Annan the UN - Arab League Joint Special Envoy, Annan's spokesman told Inner City Press on March 28, adding that Annan's deputy Nassar El-Kidwa will attend the Friends of Syria meeting in Istanbul.
On March 27 just after Annan's spokesman Ahmad Fawzi announced that Syria's Bashar al Assad government had accepted Annan's Six Point Plan, Inner City Press asked this month's UN Security Council president Mark Lyall Grant of the UK "was it the Council’s expectation that he would seek a similar agreement from the opposition, or members of the opposition?"
Ambassador Lyall Grant replied that "there are members of Mr Annan’s team that are in touch with the opposition. That clearly is an important aspect of his remit. And no doubt there will be further contacts between now and Monday [April 2]when he briefs the Security Council."
Based on this answer, Inner City Press asked Annan's spokesman Fawzi, "can you say anything about these contacts with and expectations of the opposition? Who on Annan's team is in contact, and with whom? The Free Syrian Army?"
Half a day later, Fawzi answered Inner City Press that "Yes, we have been reaching out to the opposition. Not just the FSA, the SNC SCC and others. I can't tell you who on the JSE team is pursuing these contacts, for security reasons, but I can say that Mr. Annan met a number of them in Damascus and Ankara, and Mr El-Kidwa is attending the meeting in Istanbul."
El-Kidwa, as first reported by Inner City Press, was blocked from entering Syria by the Assad government, on the theory that he was selected by and represents the Arab League, which is meeting in Baghdad (including the presence of Sudan's Omar al Bashir, indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide).
The morning Fawzi announced that Syria had agreed to the Plan, the Security Council took the issue up in closed door consultations. As Permanent Representatives trickled out, the Press asked them when Annan would brief the Council. "Mark is trying to arrange it," one European Permanent Representative answered, referring to Lyall Grant.
Moments later Lyall Grant emerged and named the time: April 2 at 10 am. A source told Inner City Press that this was arranged not with Lyall Grant but with the US, which takes over the presidency for April.
Inner City Press asked Fawzi, "was Monday 10 am arranged with UK or US, as April's President?"
To this, Fawzi replied, "I think the SC briefing was arranged with the US. Does it matter?"
It might. In April the US is predicted including due to partisan disagreement on Syria in this election year to make Syria a major item. The George W. Bush administration was no fan of Annan, including due to his deeming the US invasion of Iraq a violation of international law.
Bush Ambassador to the UN John Bolton wrote that the US chose Ban Ki-moon as Annan's successor because the US was looking for someone who didn't wake up every morning thinking he was God's gift to humanity.
The Obama administration, as reported by Inner City Press, essentially vetoed one proposed Joint Special Envoy to Syria, Boutros Boutras Ghali of Egypt whose second term as Secretary General was vetoed by Democrat Bill Clinton. But the Obama administration did NOT block Annan from the role.
If Annan's "happy talk" about Assad agreed does not stop violence but only buys time, will the US turn on Annan? After jumping the gun and arranging the April 2 briefing with him? That, to explain, is why it just might matter.
Annan's spokesman's response:
Subject: Re: Hi, Q on JSE team contacts with, and expectations of, opposition / FSA, logistics
From: Ahmad Fawzi
Date: Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 8:45 AM
To: Matthew Russell Lee [at] InnerCityPress.com
Yes, we have been reaching out to the opposition. Not just the FSA, the SNC SCC and others. I can't tell you who on the JSE team is pursuing these contacts, for security reasons, but I can say that Mr. Annan met a number of them in Damascus and Ankara, and Mr El-Kidwa is attending the meeting in Istanbul.
I think the SC briefing was arranged with the US. Does it matter?
Nope, no consultants at the moment.
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