UNSMIS chief expresses comfort over continued UN presence in Syria

DAMASCUS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Head of the UN Supervision Mission to Syria (UNSMIS) Babacar Gaye expressed comfort Saturday that the UN presence in Syria will not be stopped despite the expiry of his mission.

Gaye's remarks came a day before the end of his mission's mandate in Syria.

In a briefing to reporters, Gaye said that "the comfort for me is that the UN will stay in the country," referring to the UN Security Council's decision to establish a new civilian office in the Syrian capital Damascus to back efforts of the United Nations and the Arab League to bring an end to the crisis in Syria.

He said the United Nations will stay committed to ending violence and promoting dialogues among all parties.

Gaye, however, added that he felt frustration because his mission's goal has not been fully fulfilled.

The four-month UN observer mission in Syria was hobbled from the beginning as a result of the incessant violence in Syria. The mission's mandate is expected to end at midnight Sunday.

Sources in the mission told Xinhua that all the members will be out of Syria by midnight Sunday.

The United Nations has appointed veteran Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi as its new special envoy to Syria to replace Kofi Annan, who declared his resignation earlier this month, citing the incessant violence and lack of willingness by the battling parties to bring a peaceful end to the simmering crisis. Enditem

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