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UN Envoy Warns Syria Could Become 'Failed State'

Anti-Syrian regime protester holds up Arabic placard reading: "the victory fingers over the [presidential] palace," during a demonstration, at Binnish village, in Idlib province, Syria.

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Margaret Besheer

November 30, 2012

UNITED NATIONS — U.N.-Arab League Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi warned Friday that if a negotiated political settlement is not found for Syria, it could become a "failed state" with all the repercussions that entails.

Veteran diplomat Brahimi told the U.N. General Assembly that he is "convinced" that there are only two alternatives in Syria.

The first is the formation of a political process that leads to the creation of a new Syria that ends the bloodshed and satisfies the aspirations of the people. The second option is that Syria descends into the chaos of a failed state, with all the domestic, regional and international implications that entails.

"Naturally, nobody wishes to see a failed state in Syria," Brahimi said. "Nobody wants to see the state and its institutions withering away, lawlessness spreading, warlordism, banditry, narcotics, arms smuggling, and worst of all, the ugly face of communal and sectarian strife take hold of Syria."

Brahimi added that in order to avoid this dire prediction, there is only one option - that the international community should work together for a negotiated political process.

Brahimi, who was appointed as Joint Special Representative in August after former U.N. chief Kofi Annan quit the post in frustration, has spent most of the past three months traveling in the region. He has been working towards formulating his strategy for trying to end the crisis which has claimed some 40,000 lives.

After visiting the region, Brahimi said Friday that he does not think there is consensus there to put together a workable peace plan. He said that leaves only one option - the United Nations, and in particular the Security Council.

Brahimi acknowledged that it has been difficult for the 15-nation council to reach consensus on Syria so far, but said he believes they can do it.

"Any peace process must include necessarily a binding agreement on the cessation of all forms of violence," he explained. "As I said earlier, there is no trust between the parties and for fighting to stop. A strong, well-planned observation system must be put in place. Such observation can best be organized through a large, robust peacekeeping force - and naturally that cannot be envisaged without a Security Council resolution."

Brahimi said a recent coming together of various opposition groups into a single force is one step in the right direction toward a political process.

Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Jaafari said his government agrees with Brahimi that a political, not a military, solution must be found. Jaafari said some countries want the instability to continue so they can undermine the government and exercise their own political agendas.

A view of buildings damaged by what activists said were missiles fired by a Syrian Air Force fighter jet, Daria, Syria, November 30, 2012.
Demonstrators hold a placard that reads "Victory sign over the palace," during a protest against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad after Friday prayers in Binsh, November 30, 2012.
People walk along a row of barb wire near the border with Syria, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, November 30, 2012.
Youths sit next to a row of barbed wire near the Syrian border, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, November 30, 2012.
An Ottoman-era building damaged by an air strike in a besieged area in Homs, Syria, November 28, 2012.
A Free Syrian Army fighter with an amputated hand, takes cover from a sniper loyal to Syria's President Bashar al -Assad, near Aleppo's historic citadel, November 28, 2012.
This image taken from video obtained from the Ugarit News shows smoke after a building was struck in a warplane attack in Homs, Syria, November 28, 2012.
A man carries parts of a warplane, belonging to forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Daret Azzah, November 28, 2012.
This image taken from video obtained from the Ugarit News shows people near a destroyed plane that was shot down by Free Syrian Army fighters in Aleppo, Syria, November 28, 2012.
Residents pose near damaged wheat sacks after Syrian Air Force fighter jets fired missiles at the town of Ras al-Ain, Syria, November 26, 2012.
Members of the Free Syrian Army and men from the northern Syrian town of Ras al-Ain unload wheat from trucks, as seen from the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, November 26, 2012.
Smoke rises from damaged wheat sacks after Syrian Air Force fighter jets fired missiles at the town of Ras al-Ain, Syria, November 26, 2012.
Residents walk near debris from damaged buildings after shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad at Daria near Damascus, Syria, November 26, 2012.
Free Syrian Army fighters are seen in Daria near Damascus, Syria, November 25, 2012.