...Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh and so far the worst Secretary-General of the UN. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for something or other that probably sounded good at the time. In December 2004, reports surfaced that Kofi's son Kojo received payments from the Swiss company Cotecna, which had won a lucrative contract under the UN Oil-for-Food Program. Kofi Annan called for an investigation to look into the allegations, which stirred up the expected cesspool but couldn't seem to come up with enough evidence to indict Kofi himself, or even Kojo...of failing to deliver on his promises.
At the same time, Arab and other countries were denounced for ignoring bombings in Syria, which the regime attributes to "terrorists" and the opposition to the government itself.
State newspaper Ath-Thawra wrote that "Kofi Annan boasts of the reports of his observers, and Ban Ki-Moon can invent any accusation he has been told to, but will they respect their promises and obligations?"
"Why don't they request the withdrawal of these terrorists? Why not mention their presence, their role and their supporters and financiers? And the killers who made them and allowed them to infiltrate our streets and exist among us?"
It said that those Arab countries "supported from abroad" do not want Annan's six-point peace plan to succeed.
"Groups and individuals were quick to declare (the plan's) failure ... with the alternatives being blood and terror and systematic killing and liquidation."
Government newspaper Tishrin wrote in an editorial that "the secretary general avoids talking about abuses by gangs and focuses his blame solely on Syria, as usual. He encourages these groups to continue to commit more crimes and terrorist acts, which at the end of the day, the Syrian citizen pays for with his life, blood and security."
The paper asserted that a Damascus
...Capital of the last remaining Baathist regime in the world...
suicide kaboom on Friday proves that "armed terrorist groups" are continuing their aggression in violation of the U.N. ceasefire and in spite of the arrival of the international observers.
"Arab and international silence regarding the terrorist bombings in Syria (and) encourages the snuffies to repeat their crimes amid applause from countries such as Qatar, Soddy Arabia and Turkey."
The Baath newspaper, mouthpiece of the ruling party, accused the Saudis and Qataris of a "comprehensive escalation of crime" because it is the only way left "to derail the Annan plan."
The Syrian accusations contrast with widespread international condemnation, including from Ban and Annan, of the Syrian regime for not complying with its commitments under the plan. These include a ceasefire and a withdrawal of troops and heavy weapons from flashpoint cities.