<h3 class="post-title subpt">"Nobody could have taken up the mantle in such an unforgiving context, with as much courage, dedication and humility." Desmond Tutu
The Elders urge the international community to unite to help end the Syrian crisis, following Kofi Annan's announcement that he will not continue his mission as Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis when his mandate expires at the end of August.</h3><div class="quoteblock"><div class="quotetext"></div></div><p>The Elders wish to pay tribute to <strong><a href="http://theelders.org/kofi-annan">Kofi Annan</a></strong>’s courageous efforts as Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian crisis, following his announcement that he does not intend to continue his mission when his mandate expires at the end of August.</p>
<p>They urge the international community, and especially the UN Security Council, to unify in their efforts to help resolve the Syrian crisis, as the conflict claims more lives every day.</p>
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<p><img src="http://theelders.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/elders_thumb/tutu-t…; alt="Desmond Tutu" width="55" height="55" align="left"></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.theelders.org/elders/desmond-tutu"><strong>Archbishop Desmond Tutu</strong></a>, Chair of The Elders, said:</p>
<p><em>“We want to pay tribute to Kofi’s efforts to bring peace to the Syrian people, who so desperately need the carnage to stop. Nobody could have taken up the mantle in such an unforgiving context, with as much courage, dedication and humility.</em></p>
<p><em>“We never underestimated how hard it would be, and we saw how his Herculean task became harder by the day. We hope the international community will find a way to end the daily ordeal of violence and destruction suffered by the people of Syria.”</em></p>
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<p><strong>About The Elders</strong></p>
<p>The Elders are independent leaders using their collective experience and influence for peace, justice and human rights worldwide. The group was founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007.</p>
<p>The Elders are Martti Ahtisaari, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu (Chair).</p>
<p>Kofi Annan temporarily recused himself from The Elders upon his appointment as Joint Special Envoy on 23 February 2012.</p>
<p>Nelson Mandela is an honorary Elder.</p>