Annan: It’s not my Syria plan, it’s the Security Council’s

U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan today convened a press conference in Geneva as part of an effort to rally support for his troubled six-point plan to end the violence in Syria and start a political dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition.

But before the conference had ended, Annan appeared to be downplaying his own role as the architect of the stalled diplomatic initiative that bears his name. Asked whether the so-called Annan Plan would remain the basis for future diplomatic efforts to end the violence in Syria, or whether he was proposing a new diplomatic initiative, Annan answered: "I am not proposing anything — that’s the mandate we have. I think everyone keeps saying: ‘The Annan plan is a Security Council mandate.’ It is a Security Council resolution. And the council has given us the mandate to go ahead and implement. So I am working on the basis of a Security Council resolution and I, as an envoy, I am their agent."

Annan crafted and negotiated the terms of the six-point plan with the Syrian government and Syrian opposition elements, setting the stage for the April 12 cease-fire agreement. It was not until after he had secured agreement from the Syrians that the U.N. Security Council endorsed the plan, and top Security Council members have made it clear they were looking to Annan to take the lead in determining whether his diplomatic strategy had run its course or not.

Annan, meanwhile, has been pressing the key U.N. powers, including the United States, to participate in a new contact group comprised of influential outside powers to apply pressure on the Syrian government and the fragmented opposition to halt the fighting. Annan has proposed that the group include Britain, China, France, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia Turkey,  and the United States.

The United States opposes a role for Iran in peace talks, claiming that it has backed Syria and supported the violent repression of demonstrators during the country’s 17-month long uprising. But Annan has insisted that "Iran should be part of the solution."

Annan expressed frustration over the efforts of foreign powers to tack sides in the widening Syrian conflict, complaining that U.N. members "are taking initiatives, national initiatives, which are undermining the process" to achieve peace.

Annan did not cite the names of any countries, but his remarks followed a report in the New York Times that a small CIA team has been stationed in southern Turkey to help its military allies — possibly Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar — select which groups of Syrian opposition fighters to arm. The Syrian government, meanwhile, has received military support and arms from Russia, which claims it is only intended for defensive purposes, and Iran.

"If we continue the way we are going and competing with each other, it could lead to destructive competition and everyone will pay a price," he warned.

But inside Syria, there were few sides that the warring camps were willing to put down their arms. Gen. Robert Mood, who joined Annan in the press conference, said that he had his doubts that either parties were committed to peace. "If I’m frank I would say that I think there are a lot of stakeholders trying to buy time related to the crisis in Syria," he said, "because I have yet to hear from anyone a clear strategic operational wish or vision on how they want to go forward, in one direction or the other."

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