The U. N. Security Council today voiced grave concern at the deteriorating situation in Syria and called on its Government to immediately implement a plan proposed by the international envoy tasked with helping end the crisis in the Middle Eastern country.

In a non binding statement the 15-member body expressed its full support for the efforts of the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States for Syria, Kofi Annan, “to bring an end to all violence and human rights violations, secure humanitarian access and facilitate a Syrian-led political transition to a democratic, plural political system.”

Commenting on the statement, Ribal Al-Assad, Director of the ODFS, said:

“I welcome the U.N. Security Council’s statement on Syria. It is vital that the international community work collectively to ensure that all sides in Syria bring an end to the violence and move towards dialogue and a peaceful transition as that is the only way forward. It is also imperative that the international community help facilitate a process through which the Syrian opposition can unite on to one common platform, so they may act in a practical and pragmatic way to bring change peacefully for the sake of their country and people”.