Pretoria - South Africa says the political solution in the on-going conflict in Syria must be reflective of their will and aspirations, and protect the inalienable rights of ordinary people.
According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), the solution to the on-going conflict in Syria must be Syrian-led and that the international community should play a constructive complementary role towards the genuine pursuit of durable peace in Syria and the region.
“While recognising that the government of Syria has the greater responsibility for the protection of civilians and that it should stop the use of indiscriminate force against its people, it is important for the international community to respond to the atrocities committed by rebel and sectarian groups as well - as stated by the High Commissioner for Human Rights,” said Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela.
Monyela said the only hope for the Syrian people lies in the willingness of all the parties to the conflict to immediately put an end to the violence and start engaging each other constructively, with the aim of reaching an agreement on a political transition based on the Geneva Communiqué of June 2012.
“The South African government urges the parties to use the opportunity presented by the proposed international conference to be held in Geneva soon, to start a process of genuine negotiations without preconditions.”
Monyela said the continued human rights abuses and the increasing reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity were deplorable.
South Africa was gravely concerned that the increased supply of weapons to the parties had entrenched the false notion that a military solution was possible, when in fact there was no military solution to this crisis, Monyela said.
He said if this continued, then it was “ultimately the people of Syria who will pay the price, whilst those supplying weapons live in safety far away from the crisis”.
Since March 2011, fighting between the Syrian government and opposition forces seeking to oust President Bashar Al-Assad has killed more than 70 000 people, and left 6.8 million people in need. In addition, the UN estimates that some 1.5 million Syrians have fled their country to escape conflict. – SAnews.gov.za
