UNGA Receives a Report on Human Rights in Syria

Doha, December 12 (QNA) - HE the President of the General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser has said that the UN general assembly has received a few days' back a report from the United Nations Human Rights on human rights abuses in Syria. In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Monday, on the sidelines of the 4th forum on the UN alliance of civilizations , now in session here, HE al nasser said no proposals have yet been raised concerning the aforesaid report which has been circulated among the UN general assembly members . The United Nations human rights chief has warned that Syria could descend into civil war as more members of the armed forces defect, noting that nearly 1,000 of the estimated 4,000 people who have died in the bloody crackdown on protesters have been members of the security forces. "This is why I am alerting the world that as you have more and more defectors from security forces this may well develop into a full-fledged civil war," Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters at UN Headquarters. "I would say that whatever it is, we would be better placed if we could gain access into the country to assess the situation ourselves. This is why I do believe that having many trained observers in the country will give us a proper understanding, even of his President Bashar al-Assad own assertions," she said. Syrian President Bashar Al Assad claimed in a media interview earlier this week that his administration is fighting against armed gangs and is not targeting civilians. The report of the independent international commission of inquiry into the nine-month crackdown in Syria, concluded that Syrian security and military forces have committed crimes against humanity against civilians, including acts of killings, torture, rape and imprisonment. The report based on interviews with more than 200 victims and witnesses of human rights violations documents widespread, systematic and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Syria Government declined the commission s request to visit the country. "I point to what the commission of inquiry has factually Ms. Pillay further said that the members of the commission of inquiry had learned of a group of villagers who were on their way to deliver food to residents of another village that was under siege when they were shot at and 40 of them killed. Asked about efforts currently underway and whether they / such efforts/ lead eventually to find an international solution to the syrian crisis, HE the President of the General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser told QNA that the decision in the end would be for the UN member states and the regional organisations such as the Arab League. The Arab League, the UN General Assembly President made clear, is working on finding a positive and peaceful solution to the syrian crisis that designed to protect the dignity of the syrian people and enforce the syrian government to take the appropriate measures to calm down and ease the deteriorating situation there and then conduct the necessary reforms and punishing all those who committed the crimes against the innocent in Syria. The UN General Assembly President while commenting on the current 4th forum on UN alliance of civilizations stressed that the UN general assembly upon an initiative of his own , would call for an international conference next march to shed light on the outcome of this forum. '' Today's deliberations and debates held through the prticipation of the ranking delegations and numerous youth participations were rich and which outcomes could further enrich the next March international conference'', HE the UN General Assembly President told QNA. HE Al Nasser further said that current version of the 4th Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations reflects the mammoth role HH Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser has been exerting for the strong pushing of the alliance of civilizations since the first day of Her Highness' choice as among the high ranking personalities to form such an alliance. QNA quoted HE Al Nasser as saying that the forum which focused on the important role of women as a hub on its agenda, as well as the culture of peace and the issue of development, then it is certain that its results would appear at its next session to kick off in Austria and the following ones. (QNA)