Russia pressures Syria to extend Arab League observer mission

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The Arab League’s observer mission in Syria officially ends tomorrow with no indication that President Bashar al-Assad has eased his crackdown since monitors arrived in late December. The United Nations Security Council and Arab League are struggling to decide their next steps.

The mission was sent in to verify that Mr. Assad was complying with a peace plan that he agreed to in November, which included ending violence against protesters, withdrawing troops from Syrian cities, and releasing political prisoners.

The UN has estimated the death toll to be at least 5,000; hundreds have been killed just since monitors arrived last month, Reuters reports.  An Arab League source told Reuters that the Assad regime will allow the monitor mission to be extended for another month, but will not permit an extension of its mandate. The mission has been controversial from the start because it lacks any teeth and monitors have had to rely on the Syrian government for protection and direction. Critics of the mission called it ineffective, with some saying it is providing cover for the Assad regime.

Two monitors quit the mission last week, with one of them calling it a “farce.”

An Arab League source told Reuters that Syria is under pressure from China and Russia to agree to an extension of the observer mission as a way to avoid international action at the UN Security Council. Russia, one of five permanent members with veto power on the council, has pledged to block any action against Syria, including approval of an armed intervention. Russia circulated a draft resolution on Jan. 16 that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said “was aimed at making it explicitly clear that nothing could justify a foreign military interference,” reports the Associated Press.

"If some intend to use force at all cost ... we can hardly prevent that from happening," he said. "But let them do it at their own initiative on their own conscience, they won't get any authorization from the UN Security Council."

Russia is under significant scrutiny amid rumors that it has delivered arms to Syria, which has raised concern in the US and in the European Union, which is seeking to impose a Syria arms embargo. But Mr. Lavrov said Russia does not owe the international community any explanation because it is not doing anything illegal.

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