2.1.1 Annan’s six point plan:

This plan included six key points intended to solve the 2011-2012 Syrian crisis diplomatically. The plan imposed a ceasefire on all sides starting from April 10, 2012. It called on the Syrian authorities to:

  1. Commit to cooperate with the Envoy in an inclusive Syrian-led political process to meet the legitimate aspirations and concerns of the Syrian people. Also for this purpose, to commit to appoint a mediator with powers when requested by the Envoy.
  2. Commit to stop the fighting and urgently reach an effective cessation of armed violence in all its forms by all parties under the supervision of the United Nations, in order to protect civilians and achieve stability in the country. To this end, the Syrian government was obliged to immediately halt troop movements towards population centers, end the use of heavy weapons inside them, and begin withdrawing military positions in and around population centers.
  3. Ensure the timely provision of humanitarian assistance to all areas affected by the fighting. To this end and as immediate steps, accept and implement a daily cessation of hostilities for two hours for humanitarian reasons and to coordinate the specific timings and methods of the daily cessation of hostilities through an effective mechanism, including at the local level.
  4. Intensify the pace and size of the release of arbitrarily detained persons, especially vulnerable groups and persons who had participated in peaceful political activities, and immediately submit without delay through appropriate channels a list of all places where such persons are being held, and immediately begin organizing the process of accessing those sites and respond through appropriate channels immediately to all written requests for information, accessor release of such persons.
  5. Ensure the freedom of movement of journalists throughout the country and the adoption of a non-discriminatory policy regarding the granting of entry visas.
  6. Respect for freedom of assembly and the right to demonstrate peacefully as guaranteed by law.

Through Resolutions 2042,(14 April 2012) and 2043, (21 April 2012), the Security Council endorsed the six-point plan proposed by Kofi Annan, Joint Special Envoy for the United Nations and the League of Arab States.. They established the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) to monitor and support the implementation of the cessation of armed violence to support an inclusive Syrian-led political process. Their mandate was not renewed beyond August 2012.

2.1.2 Geneva Communique:

The statement of Geneva I, June 30, 2012 was from the first meeting in Geneva called by Kofi Annan with the Action Group on Syria. The statement stated the broad outlines of the political transition process in Syria to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. Members of the Action Group confirmed commitment to sovereignty, independence, national unity and territorial integrity.. They identified steps and measures to secure the full implementation of the six-point plan and security council resolutions 2042 and 2043 including: the immediate cessation of violence, agreed principles for political transition, and action to support the Joint Special Envoy efforts to facilitate a Syrian- led political process. They confirmed their commitment to apply joint and sustained pressure on all Syrians to participate in the political process. The Geneva Communique was endorsed by the UN General Assembly in Resolution 66/253-B in August 2012 and by the UN Security Council in Resolution 2118 in September 2013.

2.1.3 UNSCR 2118(2013)

This resolution required the Syrian government to dismantle its chemical weapons program. It was issued after the use of chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta in 2013, which claimed more than 1,600 victims. The resolution is important to the political process because it formally adopted the principles laid out in the Geneva Communiqué.

2.1.4 UNSCR 2254 (2015)

It reflects what is the closest to a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) consensus on the roadmap for the political solution for Syria. The resolution was adopted unanimously on December 18th, 2015. It focuses on the political transition, including a stable and neutral environment, a negotiation process, the meaningful participation of women in the process, a timetable for the transitional process for the sake of credible and inclusive governance, the drafting of a new constitution for the country, and free and fair elections under the supervision and auspices of the United Nations. It calls on all parties to allow immediate, humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need, in particular in all besieged and hard-to-reach areas, and to release any arbitrarily detained persons, particularly women and children. Formally, it adopts the final statement issued by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) after the Vienna meetings in 2015.

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