Arab League monitors in Syria

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On December 19, 2011, the Syrian government agreed to allow foreign observers from the Arab League to monitor Syria's progress in removing troops from protest areas, free political prisoners, and negotiate with dissidents. The mission was in accordance with the Arab League peace plan aimed to resolve the Syrian crisis. The monitors were dispatched and supported by the Arab League. [1]

Contents

Timeline

26 December 2011

67 Arab League monitors arrive in Syria. [2]

22 January 2012

Saudi Arabia withdraws from the Syrian observers mission.

24 January 2012

The Arab States of the Persian Gulf announce that they are withdrawing from the Arab League's observer mission in Syria. [3]

28 January 2012

The Arab League suspends the monitoring mission due to "the critical deterioration of the situation". [4]

Mission

Their mission was to ensure the government of Syria complies with the terms of the agreement. The Arab League's mission is non-interventionist, their only duty is to observe and report back to the secretary general.

Suspension

The Arab Foreign Ministers met in Cairo and agreed to form a unity government to lead Syria to parliamentary and presidential elections. President Bashar al-Assad would have had the duty to appoint a deputy president. [5] [6]

On January 28, the Arab League announced an indefinite suspension of its mission, citing "a harsh new government crackdown made it too dangerous to proceed and was resulting in the deaths of innocent people across the country". Nabil al-Arabi, head of the Arab League, said that following discussions with Arab foreign ministers the league decided to suspend all monitoring activity in Syria. [7]

Reaction

Countries participating in the mission

A total of 165 Arab League monitors have participated in the mission. The following countries have been named as participants at some point or another:

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References

  1. Syria agrees to let Arab League monitors in, but sanctions remain
  2. Black, Ian (January 7, 2012). "Arab League mission in Syria 'has only just started'". The Guardian. London.
  3. "Gulf Arab states to pull observers from Syria". BBC News. January 24, 2012.
  4. Solomon, Erika and Lyon, Alistair. Arab League suspends Syria mission as violence rages. Reuters. January 28, 2012. Accessed January 28, 2012.
  5. Lin Noueihed (January 22, 2012). "Arabs agree new Syria plan, urge U.N. support". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  6. Thomas Plofchan (Spring 2014). "Syrian Civil War - A Timeline of Syrian Civil War". Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  7. http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/20120129/NEWS0107/201290416/ Arab League monitors suspend Syria mission
  8. "Syria wants general overseeing Arab League mission out". USA Today . January 29, 2012.
  9. "Arab League mission in Syria 'has only just started'". The Guardian. January 7, 2012. some places looked a bit of a mess but there was nothing frightening
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Saudi Arabia withdraws its monitors from Syria; Arab League calls for power transfer". Al Arabiya . January 22, 2012.