TUNIS CONFERENCE ENDORSES SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL AS " LEGITIMATE REPRESENTATIVE" OF SYRIAN PEOPLE
English.news.cn 2012-02-25 05:37:12
TUNIS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Participants from 60 countries and regions gathering at the Friends of Syria Conference in Tunisia's capital Tunis on Friday endorsed the Syrian National Council (SNC) as the "legitimate representative" of the Syrian people, the Arab League (AL) Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi said.
In spite of the divisions revealed, a large consensus has been reached on avoiding a militarization of the conflict, moving instead towards a political solution, as advocated by the host country Tunisia's President Moncef Marzouki.
One of the main decisions adopted by the conference was to call on the UN to call for an immediate ceasefire in order to enable humanitarian aid to enter the country.
Other decisions include applying more sanctions on the Syrian regime, reducing diplomatic ties and adding pressure on the Syrian government.
It was also agreed to set up an Arab peacekeeping force to ensure stability during Syria's democratic transition.
Efforts to open up corridors of humanitarian aid for civilians will also be stepped up, Arabi said.
As the conference began on Friday, some 200 pro-Syrian protestors waving Tunisian and Syrian flags tried to force their way into the hotel where the conference was held. They were stopped by the police from entering the hotel.
Related:
SYRIAN PRESIDENT "CAN STILL SAVE HIS COUNTRY": HILLARY CLINTON
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/25/c_131430486.htm
TUNIS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- In a statement delivered at a press conference following the Friends of Syria Conference in Tunis on Friday evening, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can still "choose to save his country and his people from falling into ruins." Full story
Clinton admitted that the conference witnessed divergences, but a consensus also emerged among delegates to open up humanitarian corridors for civilians in Syria.
She did not openly broach on Saudi Arabia's decision to leave the conference in protest of the conference's "inaction."
The Gulf countries, including Qatar, favor a military solution to the conflict in Syria, calling for arming the Syrian rebels or sending in Arab forces to fight against Syrian government forces.
Clinton ruled out any military action against the Syrian regime, saying that the conference had agreed to step up pressure on the Syrian government, as well as imposing further sanctions on the country to put an end to the bloodshed.
The U.S. Secretary of State was confident that the Syrian regime would collapse from within as a result of a "military coup, " noting that over the past year military leaders have stepped in to remove unpopular leaders in the region, as happened in Tunisia and Egypt.
In the next days, various groups making up the Syrian opposition "will get together and make their voices heard," Clinton added.
Representatives from some 70 countries took part in the meeting which was organized by the Arab League.
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OBAMA VOWS TO USE "EVERY TOOL AVAILABLE" TO STOP KILLINGS IN SYRIA
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/25/c_131430467.htm
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama vowed on Friday that he would use "every tool available" to stop the killings in Syria as delegates at the Friends of Syria Conference called for an immediate ceasefire to allow access to humanitarian aid in the Middle East country. Full story
After meeting with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt at the White House, Obama said he was encouraged by the " international unity" that was developing and would continue to keep the pressure up and "look for every tool available to prevent the slaughter of innocents in Syria."
"All of us who have been seeing the terrible pictures coming out of Syria and Homs recently recognize it is absolutely imperative for the international community to rally and send a clear message to President (Bashar) Assad that it is time for a transition," Obama told reporters.
"It is time for that regime to move on and it is time to stop the killing of Syrian citizens by their own government," he added.
Participants from 60 countries and regions gathered at the first Friends of Syria Conference in Tunisia's capital Tunis on Friday, calling for an immediate ceasefire in order to allow humanitarian aid into the country.
The group reached consensus on avoiding a militarization of the conflict and moving instead towards a political solution by recognizing the Syrian National Council (SNC) as the "legitimate representative" for the Syrian people.
The group also agreed on applying more sanctions on the Assad regime, reducing diplomatic ties and adding pressure on the Syrian government.
At the conference, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on the group to take "concrete action" to "provide emergency humanitarian relief, ratchet up pressure on the regime, and prepare for a democratic transition."
She warned that the Assad regime would pay a "heavy cost" for " ignoring the will of the international community and violating the human rights of your people."
Clinton also announced that the United States was providing 10 million dollars to "quickly scale up humanitarian efforts, including support for refugees" in Syria.
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SYRIA SAYS ARMED GROUPS HINDERS DELIVERANCE OF SLAIN FOREIGN JOURNALISTS' BODIES
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/25/c_131430486.htm
DAMASCUS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Foreign Ministry said Friday that armed groups in central Homs province rejected to hand over the bodies of two slain foreign journalists to the authorities. Full story
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NEWS ANALYSIS: OBSERVERS SAY FRIENDS OF SYRIA CONFERENCE TO FURTHER FUEL VIOLENCE
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-02/25/c_131430449.htm
DAMASCUS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Syrian observers and analysts slammed the Friends of Syria conference currently underway in Tunis, pointing out that "it would further inflame the violence in Syria under the pretext of building humanitarian corridors." Full story
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