Posted 12.07.2012 06:33:23 UTC
Updated 12.07.2012 07:34:20 UTC
Nawaf Fares said that he resigned over the ongoing violent incidents in Syria which have been ruining the country for 16 months.
Fares said, "I declare that I have joined, from this moment, the ranks of the revolution of the Syrian people, and dropped all titles given by the Baath regime. I ask other honorable members of the Baath Party to follow the same step that I have taken because this regime has been transformed into a tool oppressing the people and their demands for freedom. I declare from this moment on, that I am siding with the people's revolution in Syria".
With his move, Fares has become the first high-ranking diplomat who defected to the opposition in the country.
A childhood friend of Assad, Gen. Menaf Tlas parted his ways with Assad last week and took refuge in Turkey and then he was transferred to France.
Meanwhile, the international community keeps seeking a solution to the problem in the country.
United Nations and Arab League special envoy for Syria Kofi Annan has asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to make sure the Syrian government and the opposition understand that there will be consequences if they do not abide by the ceasefire conditions immediately.
Briefing the UN Security Council via a video conference from Switzerland city Geneva, Annan said that the UNSC should be determined to apply the previously agreed decisions which also include the approval of the 6-point Annan Peace Plan
Western nations, primarily the US, France and the UK, have offered to give an ultimatum to the Assad regime to start the political dialogue.
The western-nations' offer foresees a second chance for the Assad regime to apply the Annan Peace Plan until July 22nd and only after that, if he fails to fulfill the conditions, proposes an enforced implementation of the 7th article of the UNSC.