Syria's Last Chance for Peace
Hoping to avert a civil war, the United Nations has accelerated efforts to stave off the bloodshed and encourage a peaceful political transition via the “Annan Plan.” As Syria spirals deeper into violence, the plan is rapidly unraveling, but still represents the last, best chance for avoiding widespread conflict in Syria, writes Mona Yacoubian.
The Syrian crisis is at a crucial crossroads, with one path preserving the option for a “soft landing,” while the other portends a descent into a protracted sectarian conflict.
Hoping to avert a civil war, the United Nations has accelerated efforts to stave off the bloodshed and encourage a peaceful political transition via the “Annan Plan.” As Syria spirals deeper into violence, the U.N.-backed plan is rapidly unraveling, but still represents the last, best chance for avoiding widespread conflict in Syria. The Annan Plan embodies an unprecedented international consensus on Syria, including Russia and China, which could be leveraged to impose significant consequences on the Syrian government if the plan collapses.
