Security Council Urges Syrian Authorities to Protect Minorities
The UN Security Council has condemned the widespread violence in several provinces in Syria, calling on the interim authorities 'to protect all Syrians without distinction.'
In a presidential statement it adopted unanimously on Friday, the Council 'condemned the widespread violence perpetrated in Syria's Latakia and Tartus provinces since 6 March — including mass killings of civilians among the Alawite community.'
The Council 'condemned attacks targeting civilian infrastructure' and 'called on all parties to immediately cease all violence and inflammatory activities and ensure the protection of all civilian populations and infrastructure, as well as humanitarian operations.'
It said 'all parties and States must ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to those affected and the humane treatment of all persons. The Council also urged a rapid increase of humanitarian support across Syria.'
The Council 'called for swift, transparent, independent, impartial and comprehensive investigations to ensure accountability and bring all perpetrators of violence against civilians to justice.'
It took note of the Syrian interim authorities' establishment of an independent committee to investigate such violence and identify those responsible.
The Council also noted the Syrian decision to establish a committee for civil peace.
It renewed its call for an inclusive political process led and owned by Syrians, facilitated by the UN and based on the principles outlined in resolution 2254. 'This includes safeguarding the rights of all Syrians — regardless of ethnicity or religion — meeting their legitimate aspirations and enabling them to peacefully, independently and democratically determine their futures.'
Meanwhile, the Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, hoped that the Constitutional Declaration issued by the Syrian authorities 'will move Syria toward restoring the rule of law and promoting an orderly inclusive transition.'
Pedersen issued a statement on the fourteenth anniversary of the war in Syria.
'Now is the time for bold moves to create a genuinely credible and inclusive transitional government and legislative body; a constitutional framework and process to draft a new constitution for the long term that is credible and inclusive too; and genuine transitional justice,' he said.
'More than three months since the fall of the Assad regime, Syria now stands at a pivotal moment,' he added.
The Special Envoy called for 'an immediate end to all violence and for protection of civilians in accordance with international law' and called 'for a credible independent investigation into the recent killings and violence, and for the full cooperation of the caretaker authorities with the United Nations in this regard.'
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