Can you tell me what the "they" and "his" refer to here?
(CNN) -- Once again, Syria is at a crossroads. Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan deserves applause for brokering a ceasefire in a conflict where others have failed, and where some have been only too ready to press military buttons. Despite the seeming success of diplomacy, the conflict in Syria is far from over. This is only a new beginning.

Make no mistake: Annan's mission was not accepted by the regime in Damascus because they were instinctively in line with his thinking.

I cannot understand part of the last sentence "they were instinctively in line with his thinking. ", What do the "they" and "his" refer to here?

Question

Can you tell me what the "they" and "his" refer to here?
(CNN) -- Once again, Syria is at a crossroads. Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan deserves applause for brokering a ceasefire in a conflict where others have failed, and where some have been only too ready to press military buttons. Despite the seeming success of diplomacy, the conflict in Syria is far from over. This is only a new beginning.

Make no mistake: Annan's mission was not accepted by the regime in Damascus because they were instinctively in line with his thinking.

I cannot understand part of the last sentence "they were instinctively in line with his thinking. ",  What do the "they" and "his" refer to here?

Answer

What does "they" and "his" refer to here? 

Annan's mission was not accepted by the regime in Damascus because they were instinctively in line with his thinking. 

"They" refers to the heads of the Syrian government...those tyrants who are in charge. "his" refers to Annan, who negotiated something close to peace....a cease fire. His mission (his purpose for talking or negotiating with the Syrian Government) was to get them to stop firing, bombing, to stop the war and start talking about the problems.

This phrase you are questioning might be hard to understand, but this is what it means: Annan's mission WAS ACCEPTED by the Syrian regime in Damascus, but it was not accepted just because they naturally think like he does. It was accepted because he gave them some good reasons to agree to a cease-fire. They were not shamed into doing it.  They agreed because of the conditions he presented.

Answer

They, The regime in Damascus.   His, Kofi Annan. His way of thinking.

Answers · 2

Still haven’t found your answers?

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!