World powers agree on Syria transition

The U.S., Russia and other world leaders have agreed on a plan for a transitional government of national unity in Syria. They hope the transitional government will pave the way for an end to the violence that has killed more than 15,000 people during the 16-month uprising. World powers agree on Syria transition The plan, drafted by International Envoy Kofi Annan, lays out a number of steps that, if followed, could lead to the Syrian people democratically determining their own future. But it also leaves open the question of whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can be part of the transitional government. Introducing the plan, Annan said he hoped it would launch a Syrian-led political process that ultimately would enable the Syrian people to democratically determine their own future. ​​The plan grants full executive powers to the transitional governing body. Both members of the government and opposition are to be included in the body. Annan says the Action Group has drawn up guidelines, which are meant to be helpful to the Syrian people. He said it was for the Syrians themselves, not the international community, to determine the future of the country. When given the opportunity, he says he believes the Syrian people will choose their leader wisely. “I think people who have blood on their hands hopefully are not the only people in Syria. I think the Government will have to be formed through discussion, negotiations, and by mutual consent. And I will doubt that the Syrians - who have fought so hard for their independence, to be able to have a say in how they are governed and who governs them - will select people with blood on their hands to lead them,” Annan said. The plan does not Assad by name nor indicate what, if any, role he will have to play in the new national government of unity. This verbal compromise deftly avoided a showdown between the U.S. and Russia, who do not see eye to eye as to whether Assad should remain in power. Despite this, U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said the change in the revised text would make no difference. “Assad will still have to go," Clinton insisted. "He will never pass the mutual consent test given the blood on his hands. The text also makes clear that the power to govern is vested fully in the transitional governing body, which strips him and his regime of all authority if he and they refuse to step down and leave.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the meeting very important and useful. He said he did not come to Geneva to rubber stamp a document, but to achieve an agreement that would be acceptable to all. “We consider it to be of key importance that there is no attempt in the document to impose upon the Syrian side any kind of transitional process," Lavrov said. "It is very clearly stated in the document that it is a Syrian led transition. We have achieved a situation where there are no prior pre-conditions to the transitional process and the national dialogue and that there is no attempt to exclude any kind of group from this process,” the Russian official added. The Syrian opposition has made it clear they want no part of a government if Assad is still in power. Annan said the Action Group would use its influence to pressure the various Syrian parties to move the transitional process along. He said the Group would continue to meet and will be ready to gather in case of an emergency. He added that no timetable had been set for the establishment of the transitional government but that he hoped to see progress within a year. Kofi Annan VOA

World powers agree on Syria transition

The plan, drafted by International Envoy Kofi Annan, lays out a number of steps that, if followed, could lead to the Syrian people democratically determining their own future. But it also leaves open the question of whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can be part of the transitional government.

Introducing the plan, Annan said he hoped it would launch a Syrian-led political process that ultimately would enable the Syrian people to democratically determine their own future.

​​The plan grants full executive powers to the transitional governing body. Both members of the government and opposition are to be included in the body. Annan says the Action Group has drawn up guidelines, which are meant to be helpful to the Syrian people.

He said it was for the Syrians themselves, not the international community, to determine the future of the country. When given the opportunity, he says he believes the Syrian people will choose their leader wisely.

“I think people who have blood on their hands hopefully are not the only people in Syria. I think the Government will have to be formed through discussion, negotiations, and by mutual consent. And I will doubt that the Syrians - who have fought so hard for their independence, to be able to have a say in how they are governed and who governs them - will select people with blood on their hands to lead them,” Annan said.

The plan does not Assad by name nor indicate what, if any, role he will have to play in the new national government of unity. This verbal compromise deftly avoided a showdown between the U.S. and Russia, who do not see eye to eye as to whether Assad should remain in power.

Despite this, U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said the change in the revised text would make no difference.

“Assad will still have to go," Clinton insisted. "He will never pass the mutual consent test given the blood on his hands. The text also makes clear that the power to govern is vested fully in the transitional governing body, which strips him and his regime of all authority if he and they refuse to step down and leave.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the meeting very important and useful. He said he did not come to Geneva to rubber stamp a document, but to achieve an agreement that would be acceptable to all.

“We consider it to be of key importance that there is no attempt in the document to impose upon the Syrian side any kind of transitional process," Lavrov said.

"It is very clearly stated in the document that it is a Syrian led transition. We have achieved a situation where there are no prior pre-conditions to the transitional process and the national dialogue and that there is no attempt to exclude any kind of group from this process,” the Russian official added.

The Syrian opposition has made it clear they want no part of a government if Assad is still in power.

Annan said the Action Group would use its influence to pressure the various Syrian parties to move the transitional process along. He said the Group would continue to meet and will be ready to gather in case of an emergency.

He added that no timetable had been set for the establishment of the transitional government but that he hoped to see progress within a year.