Syria: Observers Return
The mission of observers returns to Syria. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said this after a telephone conversation with the head of the League of Arab States (LAS), Nabil al Arabi.From now on, the observer mission is expected to become common: United Nations experts will join the League’s observers. In the US, however, the situation is assessed with skepticism. For example, the CNN channel reports that the US Department of Defense has begun to analyze the strategic capabilities of Syria - in case of the start of a military operation.
On the Internet, photographs and videos of fires and explosions in Homs have spread in that very city, which is considered the stronghold of two main anti-government Syrian forces: the Supreme Military Council and the Free Syrian Army. When these photographs and videotapes are taken, it’s impossible to understand, by fuzzy frames, alas. Syrian human rights activists in London talk about dozens of dead in Homs.
Anas al Jazayiri, head of the Organization for the Protection of the Rights of Victims of Terrorism and Violence, says: “It is reported that people died there, but they do not specify that there were many soldiers, and this is the most armed opposition that kills them. We also found out that most of those people who were “recorded” as victims of the regime, died an ordinary, natural death. Someone died of a heart attack, someone - from a serious illness. So these numbers are wrong. ”
Anas al Jazairi and the human rights activist himself, but he works not in London, but directly in Syria, along with observers from the Arab League. He reports that the foreign press distorts reality very much. Often, Western sources give out generally unverified information.
Here in the frame - the northern areas of the Syrian capital. The street is cordoned off, and firefighters have arrived. And here are the messages of the Western media that refer to human rights activists: “There was an explosion.” But there is only a general similarity. Of course, it looks like an explosion ... but the whole thing, as it turns out, is that in someone's apartment a household gas cylinder exploded.
Dubious, if not directly incorrect, information transmitted by the press is also noted by observers of the League of Arab States who have worked in Syria for more than a month. They visited many cities of the country and spent almost half a month in Homs. They believe that what is happening in Syria can hardly be considered a civil war. Rather, there is a struggle between the army and the militants. This conclusion is contained in the final report of the observers.
However, this conclusion does not seem to have pleased everyone. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman recalled their representatives from Syria. The mission’s work was frozen until the next meeting of the Arab League (February 11). However, observers have decided to leave Syria ahead of schedule - because of threats to their address.
Ahmed Manai, a Tunisian observer of the Arab League, reports: “My colleague on one of the TV channels made a statement. He said that what he saw in Syria was fundamentally different from the picture, which is imposed by the Arab media. And for his frankness, he almost paid with his life. We know exactly which country threatened him. However, for obvious reasons, we will not call her. ”
The United States closed its diplomatic mission in Syria. At the same time, America plans to begin delivering humanitarian aid to Syria. Ambassadors from the country recalled Italy, Spain, France, Germany, United Kingdom. Similarly, the 6 of the Gulf countries. In turn, Turkey said it would not stand aside. According to reports, under the pretext of protecting the Syrian people, the Turks intend to create a buffer zone in Syria.
"We need to think twice, discuss everything again - and send the right message to Syria." So said Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish Foreign Minister. “And if the UN Security Council,” the minister added, “cannot cope with this situation, then Turkey, together with the League of Arab States, will look for other options to assist the people of Syria.”
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