Syria

The Damascus authorities have chosen to ignore the international community’s repeated appeals, including those from several countries of the region and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. They have, on the contrary, chosen to suppress the Syrian people’s peaceful, legitimate aspirations. Their attitude threatens the stability of the whole region.

As I had the opportunity of saying in June, the Syrian regime has lost all legitimacy to govern the country. The brutal crackdown and human rights violations must stop immediately, imprisoned opponents must be released and a democratic transition implemented.

President Bashar al-Assad must today see reason and stand down to make way for a reforming government which will respond to the aspirations of the Syrian people./.