UNSC stuck again on Syria, this time on presidential statement regarding

The Security Council once again failed to agree this time on a presidential statement "fully supporting" the UN-Arab League joint Special Envoy for Syria Kofi Annan's mission, but talks continue, diplomats said. "There are major political issues at stake, so we will see whether we can solve them," French Ambassador Gerard Araud told reporters on his way into a closed-door meeting at the ambassadorial level to discuss the draft statement he introduced yesterday. The Council met for four hours earlier in the day at the experts' level, but failed to reach consensus. Council presidential statements are not biding and any of the Council's 15 members can block it. The presidential statement would welcome Annan's appointment, express its full support for his mission to bring an immediate end to all violence and human rights violations, secure humanitarian access, and facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system. According to the draft, the Council would request Annan to "update regularly its members on the progress of his activities, decide to review the implementation of his six-point plan to the Syrian authorities within seven days after the statement is issued, and to consider further measures if no progress is achieved." Russia, which along with China vetoed two resolutions in the Council on Syria last October and February, objected to the statement's language. The Council would also call upon the Syrian government and opposition to commit to work in good faith with Annan towards a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis and to implement "fully and immediately his initial six-point plan." In a related matter, it has been announced here the appointment of former UN Under-Secretary-General for peacekeeping operations Jean-Marie Ghehenno of France as Annan's deputy, along with Palestinian former Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa. In the meantime, Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari sent letters to the Council president, UK, and to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon complaining about the terrorist attacks in Damascus and Aleppo over the weekend. He said the terrorist groups, supported by regional and international players with money and weapons are not interested in reform and want the political solution to the crisis in Syria to fail at any cost, especially after there were signs that it appeared to be working. He said those who call for the arming of the opposition in Syria should be punished. There should be no forgiveness with those who support terrorism, he said. Ja'afari called on the UN to fight terrorism and not to shield its financiers from any punishment and that in the interest of peace, security and stability of Member States. The Council is also examining a Russian press statement on these terrorist attacks. Council western members object to characterize those attacks as terrorist. Diplomats said the gap between the two clans in the Council on both texts is still wide and wonder if they will reach agreement any time soon.