Turkey: UN resolution on Syria observers right, but insufficient step

Turkey has welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 2042, which was adopted on April 14, authorizing the deployment of 30 unarmed observers to Syria to oversee the cease-fire there, a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry has said. "We are pleased with the resolution on Syria approved by the UN Security Council on April 14. This resolution is an important message that the UN Security Council has responded to the situation in Syria with a single voice. However, it does not completely meet our expectations, but is a positive step," the statement said, adding that Turkey confirmed its support for UN-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan's six-point peace plan. Turkey's permanent representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, said the resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on Saturday authorizing observers to travel to Syria was a first step and a good one. Apakan said Turkey supported the efforts by Annan and placed great importance on the implementation of Annan's six-point peace plan. Apakan added that they attached special importance to the fulfillment of rightful and legitimate demands by the Syrian people. Naci Koru, deputy undersecretary at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, stated that the Foreign Ministry was pleased with the resolution. "This resolution was an important step to show the unity of the international community against the Syrian regime for the first time," said Koru. When asked if there would be any Turkish observers in the mission, Koru replied that there was no final decision about the composition of the mission. "If there is a request from the United Nations to add Turkish observers, we will evaluate it," said Koru. Oytun Orhan, an expert on Syria from the Ankara-based Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM), told Today's Zaman that this resolution was the evidence to show that the international community still wanted to solve the Syrian crisis through diplomatic channels despite the Assad regime continuing its violence since the cease-fire. "Turkey supported the Annan peace plan although it knew that Assad would not commit to the responsibilities of the plan and would try to buy time," said Orhan. Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the bloodshed in Syria was a consequence of the violation of the law of brotherhood in a speech he delivered at the inaugural ceremony for the Holy Birth Week celebrations in Istanbul. Cağrı Erhan, an expert on the Middle East, stated that a resolution would not bring success and would give the Assad regime the chance to buy more time. In the meanwhile, Syrian National Council (SNC) official Abdallah Turkmani has said that they were pleased with Turkey's position over the crackdown in Syria and added that Turkey's stance regarding the situation in Syria was "positive" but that they had expected a more concrete attitude from Turkey. Turkmani also stated that they wanted Turkey to set up a buffer zone inside Syria and also wanted humanitarian corridors to be opened to maintain the security of the Syrian people fleeing the violence in their country. Turkmani added that Turkey was an important and special neighbor.