Tag Archives: UNSMIS

08.17.12
by

UN Pulls Plug On Syria Observer Mission

image

Major-General Robert Mood and U.N. – Arab League joint special envoy for Syria Kofi Annan arrive at a Damscus hotel to address reporters in this June 22 photo. Mood stepped down as head of UNSMIS in July and Annan announced his resignation earlier this month citing lack of unity in the Security Council. (credit: UN Photo)

Aug. 17, 2012 – France’s envoy to the United Nations on Thursday confirmed that the mandate for the U.N. Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) will not be renewed when it expires on August 19 and a smaller political liaison office will take its place.

The 300-strong unarmed observer force was deployed in late April to monitor a ceasefire that never took hold and suspended its activities on June 15 due to escalating violence.

“The conditions to continue UNSMIS was not fulfilled, but there was also a consensus (in the Security Council) about the need for keeping a U.N. presence in Damascus,” said Amb. Gerard Araud, president of the council for August.

That presence will consist of small office, some 20-30 people, which will include a human rights component, military advisers, and a demining team. Control of the office will shift from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to the Department of Political Affairs, said Edmund Mulet, deputy head of U.N. peacekeeping.

On Wednesday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the death toll in Syria after 18 months of violence is now “more than 18,000.”

– Denis Fitzgerald

07.14.12
by

July 14 Statement From UNSMIS Following Preliminary Fact-Finding Mission to Treimseh

Note to correspondents by the Spokesperson for the UN Supervision Mission in   Syria

UN Observers entered el-Treimseh Saturday to try to ascertain the facts on the ground and verify reports of a military operation on the village.  On the basis of this preliminary mission, UNSMIS can confirm that an attack, using a variety of weapons, took place in Treimseh on July 12.

The attack on Treimseh appeared targeted at specific groups and houses, mainly of army defectors and activists.   There were pools of blood and blood spatters in rooms of several homes together with bullet cases.

The UN Team also observed a burned school and damaged houses with signs of internal burning in five of them.

A wide range of weapons were used, including artillery, mortars and small arms.

The number of casualties is still unclear.  The UN Team plans to go back into Treimseh tomorrow to continue their fact finding mission.

The Head of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria, Major General Robert Mood, announced on Friday, in a press conference, that the UN Mission stands ready to send its Observers to Treimseh, despite the Mission’s suspension of activities, if and when there is a ceasefire.

UNSMIS received information that a ceasefire was in place on Friday and immediately conducted a reconnaissance patrol in the area to assess access to the village and establish contacts with local Parties.

An 11 vehicle integrated patrol, comprised of specialized military and civilian observers, arrived in Treimseh, 25km north-west of the city of Hama, on Saturday after confirming that a ceasefire was in place.

UNSMIS is deeply concerned about the escalating level of violence in Syria and calls on the Government to cease the use of heavy weapons on population centres and on the Parties to put down their weapons and choose the path of non-violence for the welfare of the Syrian people who have suffered enough.