[E-rundbrief] Info 1126 - Resolution Peace Mission to Damascus

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 1126 - Resolution Peace Mission to Damascus. The 
International Peace in Syria Initiative Meets with Government and 
Opposition in Damascus and Lebanon, Beirut, June 14, 2013.

Bad Ischl, 17.6.2013

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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The International Peace in Syria Initiative Meets with Government and 
Opposition in Damascus and Lebanon

Since September 2012 the Peace in Syria Initiative has undertaken 
consultations inside and outside Syria. Between June 2 and 8, the 
Peace in Syria Initiative met with high ranking government officials, 
opposition and religious organizations.

This international initiative is composed of prominent civil society 
figures from Europe and Latin America (list attached) representing all 
those concerned with peace and justice in Syria. Its aim is to 
contribute to the end of the war and the suffering by helping create 
favourable conditions for the advancement of the political process 
through dialogue and negotiations.

In order to achieve such an aim, we met with State officials at high 
levels and various groups and parties of the opposition inside and 
outside the country, along with religious organizations and 
international and non-governmental bodies.

We have been received, have been informed on the aspects and essence 
of the conflict, and have been heard.

On the basis of the discussions held, the Initiative identified key 
areas of agreement and drew the following conclusions:

1    The conflict cannot be solved by military means.

2    There is a need for a viable political solution based on dialogue 
and negotiations and aiming at drawing up a political transitional 
framework.

3    A sectarian war is now in the making and there is a real 
possibility of it becoming transnational, making peace all that more 
urgent.

4    The conflict has had a catastrophic impact on the Syrian people 
as 6.8 million people are in need of assistance, according to 
interviewed United Nations officials.

5    The inflow and funding of weapons, soldiers, foreign fighters and 
militia from the outside aimed at continuing the war must all stop.

6    The embargo has increased misery among the population and is a 
factor, among others, affecting the delivery of the much needed 
assistance.

7    The Geneva II meeting must be attended and supported by all 
relevant parties in a way that genuinely meets the social aspirations 
of the Syrian people based on justice for the dispossessed, displaced 
and oppressed.

The Peace-in-Syria initiative agrees with the above considerations.

In the course of its discussions, various suggestions were presented 
to the parities including the following:

- Organizing a Syrian civil society conference to be held possibly in 
Austria in support of peace-building and Syrian infrastructure 
reconstruction with an emphasis on the role played by women in the 
peace building process.

- Local zones of non-violence around places such as hospitals, 
schools, cultural and religious centres with the aid of the Red Crescent.

- Good will steps by contending forces on the ground for the release 
of prisoners, hostages and kidnapped persons, particularly those most 
vulnerable.

- Formation of a European parliamentary delegation to encourage 
dialogue among the parties concerned.

The Initiative believes there is no higher moral imperative at this 
time than that of ending the killing and the suffering in Syria. 
Further misery must also be avoided by ending the destruction of 
medical infrastructure and cultural patrimony. Every day that the war 
continues signifies a further erosion of the social fabric of the 
nation and therefore the capacity to build a lasting peace based on 
justice.

We further believe that a genuine solution to the conflict should 
arise from a political process and outcome consistent with basic 
democratic and human rights, Syrian sovereignty, principles of 
international law and international humanitarian law.

We join in advocating for the security of all civilians, particularly 
vulnerable groups, and call for the strictest adherence to 
international humanitarian and human rights law including the end of 
indiscriminate attacks against non-military targets and enhanced 
humanitarian access for Syrian Red Crescent and others for the 
delivery and distribution of medicines ending the embargo on the same.

We strongly believe in the fundamental importance of the principle of 
self-determination in a context of the sovereign territorial and 
political integrity of Syria based also on freedom of expression and 
respect for cultural, economic and social rights.

We reject all foreign intervention in the Syrian conflict. We warn 
against imperial and regional attempts to create sectarian states and 
redraw the map of the Middle East in order to control the resources 
and the future of this region while also ignoring the inalienable 
rights of the Palestinian people. The continuation of military action 
can only increase external dependence, foreign intervention and the 
multiplication in the number of victims leading to uncontainable chaos 
and destruction.

The Initiative will continue its work and promote discussion among the 
parties of and immediate measures to alleviate suffering and promote 
Syrian-led reconciliation.

Beirut, June 14, 2013

www.peaceinsyria.org/downloads/peace%20in%20syria%20mission%20final%20statement%20june%202013%20en.pdf

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Delegates:
www.peaceinsyria.org/delegation.php

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Political call:
www.peaceinsyria.org/mission.html


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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
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