MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Syria (2011/2880(RSP))

13.12.2011

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Willy Meyer, Sabine Lösing, Jiří Maštálka on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group

B7‑0726/2011

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Syria (2011/2880(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the situation in Syria has been deteriorating in the last few months since the violent repression of demonstrations starting in March 2011; whereas according to U.N. estimates as many as 4,000 people may have lost their lives, many more have been injured;

B.  whereas violence has been largely blamed on the government military and security forces; whereas there is a rapid increase in the fighting and attacks by armed groups, each with their own reasons and motives, some allegedly infiltrating into the country and with weapons put illegally across the border; whereas kidnapping and sectarian violence are on the rise;

C. whereas the Arab League has taken unprecedented decisions, namely the suspension of the membership of Syria in the Arab League and the withdrawal of Arab Ambassadors from Damascus;

D. whereas the involvement of third states such as the USA and Turkey, appears to have surpassed the simple provision of diplomatic support to the Syrian opposition;

E.  whereas certain states of the region have been allegedly interfering in the country on religious grounds;

F.  whereas Syrian opposition declares to be opposed to any kind of foreign namely military intervention;

G. whereas the Syrian regime has been committing itself to drafting a new Constitution implementing deep rooted political and social reforms, but has yet to conclude and present it; whereas the Syrian President in a recent interview stated that elections would be held in February or March 2012;

H. whereas the die situation in Syria is already having negative impact on the situation in Lebanon and will consequently affect the whole of the region with dire implications;

1.  Unequivocally condemns the use of force and violence by government military and security forces against protesters and by armed groups; urges the Syrian regime to immediately put an end to all human rights violations, release all held without legal grounds, grant medical services to the wounded and respect fundamental freedoms; urges also all armed groups to stop violence;

2.  Calls upon the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to abandon the military-security path and opt for national dialogue; urges it to implement the announced reforms and promote an inclusive national dialogue aimed at effectively addressing the legitimate aspirations and concerns of the Syrian people and averting foreign plans to dismantle/partition the country;

3.  Insists that the future destiny of Syria must firmly rest in the hands of the Syrian people, without any external interference;

4.  Calls for an immediate end to all foreign interference in the country, including through the supply of weapons and funding of armed groups;

5.  Denounces the use of the presence of different religious groups and denominations, as well as minorities to instigate sectarian violence and justify intervention;

6.  Rejects any foreign involvement in the internal affairs of Syria or military intervention against the country; is strongly against the use of the ‘responsibility to protect’ as an excuse to justify military intervention; is strongly against plans to partition the county;

7.  Any further deterioration of the situation would have unpredictable consequences for the whole region; insists on the peaceful resolution of the situation;

8.  Rejects the use of sanctions as a means of ending the conflict, as these would only lead to the further deterioration of the social and economic situation with negative effects on the population at large and aggravation of the political situation;

9.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of the Syrian Arab Republic, the Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean and the Arab League.