Angola worried about situation in Syria

Luanda, Geneva – Angola Friday in Geneva expressed deep concern about the deterioration of the situation in Syria and condemned the latest developments in El Houala. This was during the 19th Session of the Human Rights Council on human situation in that Middle East nation, following the massacres of May 25. Addressing the session, the Angolan representative to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva, ambassador Apolinário Correia, underlined that “Angola reiterates the importance of the respect for the six-point peace plan proposed in March by Koffi Annan, in his capacity as UN special envoy and of the Arab League for a solution to the Syrian crisis, and appealed to the parties to put an end to the violence and create access for humanitarian agencies. “We have backed the idea of immediate opening of an independent and impartial enquiry in partnership with the observers of the United Nations Supervision Mission for Syria (MISUNS), in order to identify the authors of these ignoble acts,” he stated. “Angola appeals to the parties to fully cooperate with the enquiry commission and take concrete  measures to prevent such acts to be repeated,” the ambassador also said. “We are convinced that these acts can not succeed, should courageous measures be taken by the two parties to put an end to the suffering of the Syrian people,” said the diplomat who also appealed to all involved actors and parties to dialogue with a view to a political solution and end of the current crisis in Syria. At the end of the session, the Council adopted a resolution with 41 votes in favour, including Angola’s, three against and an abstention. The resolution condemns the massacres in El Houla, reiterates the immediate implementation of Koffi Annan’s peace plan and appeals to the parties to cease all violence and human rights violations. Angola clarified its vote position, contrary to the previous sessions, with a deep conviction that the “Annan Plan” is the only solution to the crisis in Syria. It also appealed to the parties and the international community to make an effort for an immediate enforcement of the peace plan that, among other points, calls on the parties to cease all types of human rights violations, opening of a political dialogue between the Syrian Government and the civilian and armed opposition and creation of a humanitarian corridor to permit humanitarian agencies’ assistance.