AFP, Paris, 5 Jan 2012 – France on Thursday urged the Arab League to strengthen its monitoring mission in Syria amid concerns its observers have failed to stem bloodletting in the country.
The French foreign ministry’s deputy spokesman, Romain Nadal, also called on the Arab grouping to accept help in organising the mission, in particular from the United Nations.
‘Given the risks of manipulation and concealment, all contributions to strengthen the effectiveness of the observers’ work in Syria are useful, particularly those of the United Nations,’ Nadal said.
‘We encourage the Arab League to use all means possible to strengthen this mission so that observers can move independently throughout Syrian territory and have all necessary contact with Syrian civil society,’ he said.
The Arab League has turned to the UN for help after admitting ‘mistakes’ in its Syria monitoring mission.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani, who heads an Arab League task force on Syria, on Wednesday discussed obtaining ‘technical help’ for the mission with UN leader Ban Ki-moon in New York, Kuwait’s KUNA news agency reported.
He also admitted ‘some mistakes’ had been made by the mission.