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UNSC authorises 300 observers for Syria
The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution that authorises a supervision mission of 300 unarmed military observers to be deployed in Syria for three months to monitor the ceasefire in the conflict-ridden country.
The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution that authorises a supervision mission of 300 unarmed military observers to be deployed in Syria for three months to monitor the ceasefire in the conflict-ridden country.
UN resolution 2043, introduced by Russia, said deployment of the UN observer mission will be "subject to assessment by the Secretary-General (Ban Ki-moon) of relevant developments on the ground, including the cessation of violence".
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon strongly welcomed the unanimous decision of the Security Council to authorise the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) for an initial period of 90 days.
The Secretary-General "calls upon the government of Syria and other parties swiftly to create the conditions necessary for the deployment of the mission," a statement released by his spokesperson said here.
India's ambassador to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri said India voted in favour of the resolution with the "expectation that UNSMIS will implement its mandate impartially, objectively and fairly and help the Syrian parties to build on the ceasefire and commence an inclusive Syrian-led political process that will meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people".
Puri described the adoption of the resolution as a "significant step" in the 15-nation UNSC's collective support for the efforts of the joint special envoy Kofi Annan to help bring an end to the year long violence in Syria where about 9000 people have been killed.
Puri said the resolution is an appeal to all parties to "walk back from violence so that an impartial supervision and monitoring of the ceasefire can contribute to observing and upholding the commitment of the parties".
