Arab Ministerial Committee on Syria Calls on Syrian President to Step Down

Doha, December 09 (QNA) - The Arab Ministerial Committee on Syria renewed its call for Syrian President Bashar Al Assad to step down to facilitate the process of initiating power transition and stop the bloodshed and destruction. The Committee, in a statement released in Doha today after its meeting chaired by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani, said that the continuing deterioration of the situation could have the gravest consequences and serious repercussions on the future of Syria, its people and its territorial integrity as well as on the security and stability of the region. The Committee affirmed its full support for the joint UN/Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi in his mission to reach a formula that can ensure consensus among the Security Council members to adopt a resolution to transfer power and form a transitional government with full responsibility to rule the country and achieve the aspirations of the Syrian people in attaining freedom and change, as well as in establishing a democratic regime. According to the statement, the Chairman of the Arab Ministerial Committee and the Arab League Secretary General were asked to continue their efforts and contacts to achieve consensus in the Security Council to pass a mandatory resolution for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of all acts of violence. The statement also demanded the adoption of an appropriate mechanism to implement the resolution and approve steps of a political solution to the crisis and the transfer of power in support of the efforts of the joint envoy Brahimi in this regard. The Committee welcomed what was achieved in the meetings of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces that were held recently in Cairo, and also welcomed the establishment of a unified military command for the forces of the Syrian revolution. The ministerial meeting called on the Coalition and the rest of the opposition parties to continue their efforts and dialogue in order to strengthen the capacity of this coalition to be the only entity that represents the Syrian people. It called for a framework of joint action for the Syrian opposition in managing the tasks of current transitional phase. The Committee also called on all international and Arab states and organizations to intensify their efforts to prepare a comprehensive plan to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the affected areas as well as to the displaced inside Syrian territory and to the Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. The Committee requested the Secretariat of the Arab League to organize a conference for organizations and Arab bodies concerned with the provision of humanitarian aid in Syria in order to coordinate relief efforts in cooperation with other UN organizations and agencies involved. The statement also asked the Secretariat of the Arab League to prepare for a general conference on the reconstruction in Syria. The statement welcomed the Kingdom of Morocco's hosting of the Fourth Conference of the Group of Friends of the Syrian People due to be held next Wednesday in Marrakech, expressing the hope that the conference will be an important venue to mobilize Arab and international efforts in support of the Syrian people and adopt practical steps to assist them in accomplishing their aspirations and in overcoming the challenges of the current transitional phase. The statement also included reservations expressed by Algeria concerning the call for Bashar al-Assad to step down, and on welcoming the establishment of a unified military command for the forces of the Syrian revolution, as well as on the recognition of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. It included as well reservations expressed by Iraq regarding the call on Assad to stand down, and on welcoming what has been accomplished in the meetings of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. The committee in its meeting today, according to the statement, discussed the latest developments and escalations in various cities and areas in Syria, including the capital Damascus due to continued and expanded violence, murder and heinous crimes committed by the Syrian authorities against the Syrian people as well as their use of heavy weapons and information surfaced that they may use chemical weapons against their citizens and its consequences on the Syrian people and the security of the region. The Committee also discussed the efforts and contacts undertaken by Lakhdar Brahimi to address this crisis. (END)