UNITED NATIONS, April 21, 2012 (AFP) – Key points from UN Security Council resolution 2043 passed Saturday allowing 300 unarmed ceasefire monitors to go to Syria:

— Authorizes a mission of up to 300 unarmed military observers for an initial 90 days to monitor the cessation of violence and monitor and support implementation of UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan’s six-point peace plan
— Authorizes civilian experts — on politics and public security — to support implementation of the Annan plan
— UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will make the ’assessment’ on whether it is safe to deploy the mission. This would include the consolidation of the cessation of violence started on April 12
— Ban must ’immediately’ report any obstructions to the mission and he must provide a written report every 15 days. Normally the council demands reports every 30 days
— Resolution calls on President Bashar al-Assad to carry out promises on troop movements and heavy weapons, but adds two new calls to complete the pullback of troops and weapons from population centers. Previous resolution only spoke of beginning the withdrawal
— There is no threat of sanctions but the council say it will assess the implementation of the mission resolution and ’consider further steps as appropriate’
— Underlines the need for rapid agreement on air transport for the mission. Syria has so far refused to let the mission use its own helicopters
— The resolution also says Syria must ensure ’unhindered deployment’ of mission personnel and give them ’full, unimpeded freedom of movement and access’ including ability to communicate freely and privately with individuals throughout Syria without retaliation against the individuals
— The resolution expresses concern about the new surge in violence and escalation in casualties and notes the cessation of violence is ’clearly incomplete’
— The resolution highlights the problem of growing numbers of Syrian refugees fleeing to other countries and calls for assistance by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
— The resolution gives full support to Kofi Annan and his peace plan and says it must be urgently implemented to achieve a ’Syrian-led political transition.’ It condemns ’widespread violations of human rights by Syrian authorities’ as well as any abuses by armed groups