A/HRC/28/69 Kofi Annan, on 27 March 2012. The plan principally called upon the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to engage in an encompassing political process, to cease military hostilities and to allow humanitarian aid to areas affected by the fighting. Shortly afterwards, in April 2012, the United Nations Supervision Mission in the Syrian Arab Republic was appointed with the aim of monitoring the declared ceasefire to which the Government and armed opposition had initially committed. On 16 June, the mission was suspended when hostilities resumed. 110. The final communiqué of the Action Group for Syria (Geneva communiqué), issued in June 2012,11 remains one of the most serious attempts to resolve the conflict politically. It provides a road map for a peaceful transfer of power through the establishment of a transitional governing body with executive powers. After his appointment in August 2012, the Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Lakhdar Brahimi, immediately called for the implementation of the terms of the Geneva communiqué. After months of negotiations and a persistent diplomatic push by the United States of America and the Russian Federation with the parties to the conflict, a conference (“Geneva II”) was held in Montreux, Switzerland, on 23 January 2014. Negotiations broke down after two rounds of talks between the Government and the opposition, mostly represented by the Syrian National Coalition (SNC). The main issue of contention centred on priorities on the negotiation agenda, given that the Government insisted on addressing terrorism before engaging on issues pertaining to the transitional government, which the SNC rejected. 111. The prospects for a political solution have been further complicated by the multiplication of armed actors on the ground. The drastic territorial expansion of ISIS coupled with the continued fragmentation of FSA-affiliated groups has made it impossible to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire or broader political agreement. It has further weakened the stance of the SNC as its leverage over these groups progressively declined. Recent efforts have been geared towards “harmonizing” the relations of SNC with influential armed groups on the ground, while also engaging with the internal political opposition. The latest meeting in Cairo, held on 22 January 2015 between the SNC and members of the internal opposition, was specifically aimed at creating a common platform. A final 10-point document was endorsed by a majority of participating members. It called for a peaceful transition to a democratic and civil system, while stressing that the Geneva communiqué remained the basis for negotiations with the Government. 112. The initiative taken by the Russian Federation in January 2015 was aimed at bringing together members of the opposition and the Government. The main external opposition bloc, the SNC, declined the invitation, while members from various internal opposition groups agree to attend. Consensus was reached on the need to preserve the sovereignty and unity of the Syrian Arab Republic; the rejection of foreign interference; fighting terrorism as a priority; and ending the civil war through peaceful means. 113. The expansion of extremist groups has also hardened the negotiating position of the Government and its willingness to make concessions. The Government has consistently set the end of external military support to armed groups and the so-called ��fight against terrorism” as preconditions for any political or transitional process. It has also refused to recognise the SNC as a unified entity and has instead focused its efforts on engaging with the internally tolerated opposition. 114. The current step-by-step approach adopted by Special Envoy of the SecretaryGeneral Staffan de Mistura aims to address the fragmentation of the conflict by focusing on 11 A/66/865–S/2012/522, annex.. 17