Feltman: West Assessing Alternatives if Arab Observers Submit ‘Negative’ Report on Syria
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said that the Arab observers should be given “some time” to monitor Syria’s implementation of its obligations stated in the Arab protocol.
“If the (observers’ report) was negative, then the international community will have to weigh its options in order to stop the violence,” Feltman said in an interview with An Nahar newspaper on Friday.
The League mission is part of an Arab plan endorsed by Syria after weeks of stalling. It calls for the withdrawal of armed forces from towns and residential districts, a halt to violence and the release of detainees.
According to the daily, Feltman stressed that Washington isn’t interested in the background of General Mohammed Ahmed Mustafa al-Dabi, a veteran Sudanese military intelligence officer who is heading the observer mission.
“We didn’t choose the mission, and we’re not leading it, it’s an Arab league mission, and we are focusing on whether it will be able to carry out its tasks,” he stated.
Arab peace monitors, aimed at halting the bloodshed in Syria, spread out to areas hit by unrelenting violence across the country on Thursday.
Asked about a report published in U.S. Foreign Policy magazine that Washington and Turkey are considering to establish “humanitarian corridors” and buffer zones near the Turkish-Syrian border, or forcing a no-fly zone on Syria, Feltman noted that there are “ongoing discussions with the Turkish leaders.”
“We have to consider other emergency options if (Syrian President) Bashar Assad lied again… We are discussing the measures that will be taken with the Europeans, Turks, Arab allies… but I don’t want to answer hypothetical questions,” the daily quoted the U.S. official as saying.
Activists say that more than 70 civilians have been killed by security forces since the first group of monitors arrived on Monday in Syria on a month-long renewable mission to implement the Arab League peace plan.
Concerning the Syrian army violations of the Lebanese border, Feltman said that U.S. ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly is following up the issue.
“We are worried that Assad will try to pass on Syria’s crisis to Lebanon,” he added.
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