St. Levi Press, Jakarta

On April 21, the United Nations Security Council unanimously decided to send up to 300 observers to Syria. They are to monitor the ceasefire in force since April 12 as well as the implementation of Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan’s six-point plan. The Security Council Resolution stipulates that the mission should be guaranteed “full freedom of movement” in the country. The mission has been established for an initial period of 90 days.
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle welcomed the unanimous decision. He said it sent “a strong message of support” from the international community for Annan’s peace plan and thus for a political solution.
A week earlier, the Security Council had already adopted a Resolution to send an advance team of 30 observers to Syria. However, the violence in the country flared up repeatedly again over the course of the week, leaving many dead or injured. The German Foreign Minister therefore emphasized: “Now more than ever the Assad regime needs to cease its violence throughout the country without any ifs or buts and respect the ceasefire in full.” The “time for subterfuges and tactical games” was over, he went on.

A team of UN observers and their spokesman arrive in Damascus on April 22 as they return from a tour in Homs province. (© picture alliance / dpa)

  
 UNSMIS
  The larger observer mission means that the international community now has an instrument with which it can monitor the situation throughout Syria. The mission is called UNSMIS. The unarmed military observers will be aided by civilian support personnel. The six-point plan, the implementation of which the observers are to monitor, envisages the initiation of a political dialogue, access for humanitarian organizations, the release of political prisoners, freedom of movement for journalists, and freedom of association and the right to demonstrate peacefully in Syria.

source: germany.info