Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Oman Tribune - the edge of knowledge

Oman Tribune - the edge of knowledge

Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on Tuesday has warned of the ‘Somalisation’ of Syria if the peace efforts fail, as Syrian President Bashar Al Assad sacked Deputy Prime Minister, Qadri Jamil, saying the official had been absent without leave and carried out unauthorised meetings abroad.

Brahimi’s grim warning came as fighting prevented chemical weapons inspectors from visiting two sites, although UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the mission to destroy Syria’s arsenal by mid-2014 was still on track.

In an interview with a French website published on Monday, Brahimi said Assad could contribute to the transition to a “new” Syria but not as the country’s leader.

“What history teaches us is that after a crisis like this there is no going back,” he told the Jeune Afrique website ahead of his to Syria.

He admitted “the entire world will not be present” at the talks, but said the alternative to a political settlement could be a failed state in the heart of the Middle East.

“The real danger is a sort of ‘Somalisation,’ but even more deep and lasting than what we have seen in Somalia.”

No comments:

Post a Comment