Arab League chief holds international community responsible for envoy resignation

The secretary general of the Arab League said on Wednesday that he deeply regretted the resignation of the joint UN-Arab League special envoy to Syria. Nabil Elaraby said that Lakhdar Brahimi’s resignation reflected the international community’s failure to assume its political, moral and humanitarian responsibilities to stop the fighting in the country.

According to Elaraby, the international community failed to provide adequate support to Brahimi’s efforts to end the conflict based on the Geneva I statement issued on June 30, 2012, which calls for the formation of a transitional government.

The Arab League chief said that Brahimi, a prominent Arab and international envoy acclaimed for his proficiency and long experience in dealing with international crises, had made strenuous efforts to resolve the Syrian problem.

“Mr Lakhdar Brahimi has made tireless efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis and find a political solution that puts an end to the acts of violence, killing and destruction,” said Elaraby, “which would also ensure that the Syrian people achieve their aspirations for freedom and democratic change and to preserve Syria’s unity, independence and national sovereignty.”

Elaraby said that he and UN leader Ban Ki-moon have been discussing steps to be taken by the UN and the Arab League in the light of the new developments, including appointing a successor to Brahimi.