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LATEST NEWS AND STATEMENTS

  • Syria – Massacres in Jdeidet al-Fadel (23.04.13)

    France utterly condemns the massacre of civilians in the neighborhood of Jdeidet al-Fadel on the outskirts of Damascus. This heinous act again demonstrates the brutality of Bashar al-Assad’s regime which doesn’t hesitate to massacre civilians in order to remain in power.

  • Increase in tensions at the border between Syria and Lebanon (22.04.13)

    France is deeply concerned at the increase in tensions at the border between Syria and Lebanon. During the weekend, the fighting that took place in Syria around Qusayr was accompanied by further rocket attacks against the Hermel region in Lebanon. These rocket attacks compromise Lebanon’s integrity and sovereignty and threaten the security of the Lebanese people.

  • Syria – Attack at a mosque (21.03.13)

    France strongly condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated on Thursday at the Eman mosque in Damascus which resulted in numerous casualties, including Sheik Mohammad Said Ramada al-Bouti. It reaffirms its condemnation of all violence against civilians and its commitment to fighting terrorism.

  • Syria – Election of Ghassan Hitto (19.03.13)

    While the situation continues to deteriorate in Syria, resulting in more and more casualties among the population, France would like this election to enhance the Coalition’s capacity to help the Syrian people, to prepare for political change, and to work toward building a free and democratic Syria.

  • Syria: arms (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 14.03.13)

    “Our position, which is also shared by the British, involves asking the Europeans to lift the embargo so that the resistance fighters can defend themselves. From the outset, France has led the way in supporting the Syrian resistance. We’re doing so at the humanitarian level. We’re doing so on a political level by supporting the opposition but the toll is absolutely appalling. "

  • Syria - Aleppo municipal and provincial council elections (02-03.03.13)

    France welcomes the holding of the elections on March 2 in Turkey to select the 25 members of the Aleppo municipal council, and then on March 3 to appoint the 29 members of the provincial council of Aleppo and its region, whose purpose will be to manage administrative affairs for civilians.

  • Syria – Meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People group (Rome, 28.02.13)

    This meeting comes at a time when the crackdown against the Syrian people is intensifying and the volume of displaced persons and refugees is constantly increasing. It will provide an opportunity for a growing proportion of the international community to reaffirm its support for the coalition through concrete measures.

  • Syria – Attack (21.02.13)

    France utterly condemns the series of attacks in Damascus which killed at least 83 people and injured hundreds more on February 21. We express our solidarity with the Syrian people. We noted that the Syrian National Coalition immediately condemned these attacks, which amount to war crimes.

  • Syria – Massacre in Aleppo (30.01.13)

    France expresses its dismay following the discovery of around a hundred bodies of young men murdered in Aleppo. We utterly condemn this heinous act which reflects the escalation of violence in Syria and constitutes a war crime.

  • Meeting in support of the Syrian coalition (22.01.13)

    France will host on Monday, January 28, a working meeting in support of the Syrian National Coalition. This meeting, which will be opened by the minister of foreign affairs, will take place in the presence of the coalition leaders. Around 50 countries, regional and international organizations will participate in this exercise at the senior official level.

  • Syria – Massacre in Homs (16.01.13)

    France utterly condemns the latest massacre perpetrated yesterday by the Syrian army in Homs which has resulted in the death of more than 100 civilians, including women and children.

  • Syria – Attack on Aleppo University (15.01.13)

    France utterly condemns the attack perpetrated yesterday against Aleppo University, which killed more than 82 people and injured more than 150, the vast majority of them students. The perpetrators of these crimes must be brought to justice. We note that the Syrian National Coalition, the only legitimate representative of the Syrian people, strongly condemned this attack.

  • Syria - International Criminal Court (14.01.13)

    At Switzerland’s initiative, a letter was today addressed to the UN Security Council asking it to refer the issue relating to the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court.

  • Syria – Airstrike against Halfaya (24.12.12)

    France condemns in the strongest terms the airstrike against Halfaya on December 23 by regime forces. By deliberately targeting a bakery, this airstrike killed more then 60 civilians, including women and children.

  • Syria – Assessment of the Marrakesh conference (13.12.12)

    France is pleased with the success of the Marrakesh conference. With 130 delegations and more than 50 ministers represented, the Friends of the Syrian People group demonstrated the scale of international mobilization to find a solution to the Syrian crisis, which must include a democratic transition following Bashar al-Assad’s departure.

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 04.12.12)

    Any use of these chemical weapons by Bashar al-Assad or the leaders under his orders would be unacceptable. We’re working in close coordination with our partners in order to prevent any use of these weapons, should either the regime or any others be tempted to use them.

  • Syria – Vote on a UN General Assembly resolution (27.11.12)

    The fact that 132 states voted in favor of the resolution reflects the international community’s mobilization against the atrocities in this country and underscores the Syrian regime’s isolation on the international stage, including within the Arab world since more than half of the member states of the Arab League co-sponsored this text.

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 09.11.12)

    "France supports the process aimed at organizing and unifying the Syrian opposition. This meeting in Doha is very important. The opposition must seize this opportunity to take a decisive step toward establishing a transitional national authority, which France has called for. "

  • Situation in Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 06.11.12)

    The objective reaffirmed by President Hollande – which he reiterated in Saudi Arabia on Sunday – is the formation of an inclusive interim government that represents all components of Syrian society and which respects the rights of all communities. The president said that he would recognize such a government when it is formed.

  • Syria – Bombing of Maraat al-Noman (19.10.12)

    At a time when Mr. Brahimi, the joint special representative of the UN and the Arab League, is in Damascus, these crimes highlight the urgency of instituting a lasting cease-fire and political transition in keeping with the aspirations of the Syrian people. The regime in Damascus must be held accountable for all the suffering it has inflicted on the Syrian people.

  • Syria - Meeting in Support of the Civilian Revolutionary Councils - Speech by Laurent Fabius (17.10.12)

    "These exemplary Syrian citizens represent the efforts of a collective mobilization that remains strong, despite the fighting. For us, it was particularly important to give them the opportunity to be heard today, so that we might better understand their role. They have come to speak to us of the situation on the ground but also to explain how they work, how they are organized and, most important, to talk about their projects and needs."

  • Meeting in support of the civilian revolutionary councils in Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 12.10.12)

    The purpose of this meeting is two-fold. On the one hand, to review what we’ve achieved so far, in the presence of the main parties concerned, some of whom have come from Syria, and the NGOs that are supporting our humanitarian efforts in the liberated areas. And on the other hand, this is an opportunity to mobilize our partners. That’s why, in addition to the representatives of the civilian revolutionary councils, in addition to the NGOs, in addition to the network of Syrian doctors, there will be representatives from certain partner states, the EU, and the region, as well as others. I can’t give you the exact list because it hasn’t been fully defined yet. I will be able to do so at the beginning of next week.

  • Situation in Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 09.10.12)

    France was one of the first countries to support the Syrian opposition. We are in regular contact with the members of the civilian opposition, with the SNC of course, but also with other groups. President Hollande was the first Western head of state to receive the president of the SNC, Mr. Sayda. The minister has received him several times. He also received other opposition members, including former Syrian Prime Minister Mr. Riyad Hijab, on September 19. Furthermore, I want to remind you that the representatives of the opposition based within the country and outside it participated in the Friends of the Syrian People conference in Paris on July 6.

  • Syria – Destruction of the medieval market of the city of Aleppo (01.10.12)

    France remains committed alongside the Syrian people and will continue to maintain pressure on the Damascus regime in order to prevent further massacres. The violence that the regime is using against its own people amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity, as the Human Rights Council just reaffirmed on September 28. All those involved in these crimes will be held to account.

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 06.09.12)

    During his speech to the ambassadors Mr. Hollande notably stated: “The principle is simple: Bashar al-Assad must go. There’s no political solution with him. He is a threat, he’s continuing with unbelievable violence to massacre the people, destroy cities and kill women and children – we’ve had evidence of this again in the past few days.”

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 31.08.12)

    France is determined to continue and to strengthen its efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the Syrian refugees. As the minister indicated yesterday at the UN Security Council meeting that he chaired, France will continue – on top of its actions at the national level – to campaign for increased European humanitarian assistance. It urges all donors to mobilize their efforts.

  • Syria – Death of journalist Mika Yamamoto (21.08.12)

    France would again like to signal its solidarity with journalists all over the world - especially in Syria - who, often at the risk of their lives and in particularly difficult circumstances, continue to work courageously to ensure the circulation of free and independent information

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 03.08.12)

    "The humanitarian situation in Syria is extremely serious. There are several hundreds of thousands of refugees in neighboring countries, 120,000 of whom have been registered by the High Commissioner for Refugees, in addition to a million internally displaced persons. Access to food, medicine and necessities has become problematic for thousands of families. France is fully mobilized in the face of this humanitarian emergency. "

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 27.07.12)

    We are making every effort to get the international community to unite and mobilize its efforts with respect to the Syrian tragedy, in order to exert growing pressure on the Syrian authorities and make them agree to begin a political transition in Syria. It is the only credible response to the aspirations of the Syrian people and to the tragic situation we are seeing in Syria today.

  • Syria – Bombing of Tremseh (13.07.12)

    We’re extremely concerned by reports indicating that a new massacre has been perpetrated in the region of Hama by the Syrian forces, which purportedly used tanks and helicopters to bomb the area of Tremseh, with the death toll reported to be at more than 150.

  • Defection of Mr. Nawaf Fares, Syrian Ambassador to Iraq (13.07.12)

    This defection is highly symbolic because Mr. Nawaf Fares is the first Syrian ambassador to make this gesture to reject an increasingly brutal crackdown against a population that is fighting for its freedom. We hope that this defection will be followed by that of other Syrian diplomats and officials.

  • Meeting of the Group of Friends of the Syrian People - Statement of Chairman’s conclusions (06.07.12)

    The participants formally called upon the Syrian regime to finally meet its commitments with a view to the full implementation of the six-point plan for crisis resolution drawn up by Kofi Annan, Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian Crisis. They called on all Syrians and civil society organizations to publicly dissociate themselves from the human rights violations committed by the Syrian regime.

  • Syria – Defection of 85 soldiers (03.07.12)

    France renews its appeal to the Syrian security forces to carry out their duty to protect the people and not to violently crush them by executing the criminal orders of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

  • NATO meeting on Syria (26.06.12)

    Following the downing of a Turkish fighter jet without warning on June 22, the North Atlantic Council is holding consultations at Turkey’s request, under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty. France will express solidarity with its Turkish ally at today’s NATO meeting and will repeat its firm condemnation of this unacceptable action.

  • Syria – Defection of Colonel Hassan Hamadeh (22.06.12)

    France welcomes the defection of Colonel Hassan Hamadeh and commends this courageous gesture. Colonel Hassan Hamadeh joins the growing number of Syrian army officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men who have, over the past 15 months, chosen dignity and the fight for freedom in the face of the Syrian regime’s barbarity.

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 20.06.12)

    The continuation of the bloody crackdown in Syria has again led to the death of several dozen people in the past few days, while the actions of Bashar al-Assad’s regime are posing a threat to regional peace and security. The Syrian regime has shown no sign of willingness to implement the Annan plan since April 10 and hasn’t even complied with its initial commitments, namely the withdrawal of its troops and heavy weapons from the population centers.

  • Syria - (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 18.06.12)

    In the face of the regime’s relentless crackdown, notably in the city of Homs currently being bombarded by Syrian armed forces, it’s more necessary than ever to make the Annan plan binding and place it under Chapter 7 at the UN Security Council and, more generally, to convey a message of firmness to the Syrian authorities regarding the imperative of complying with their commitments and the consequences they will have to face if they continue to flout them, in accordance with the demand made by the Special Envoy several days ago.

  • Syria – Istanbul meeting (15.06.12)

    This meeting forms part of the efforts of the Syrian opposition - notably the SNC - to organize itself and come together around a common vision of the Syria of tomorrow in accordance with the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people.

  • Syria/aggravation of the situation – Press conference given by Laurent Fabius (excerpts - 13.06.12)

    "The situation in Syria has taken an even graver, more horrific turn. We have learned in particular that children are now serving as human shields for the regime; they are led in front of trucks and tanks, tortured, raped and murdered. Every day, dozens and dozens of Syrians are killed by the bloody regime of Mr Bashar al-Assad. Given the circumstances, France has decided to strengthen her stance to oppose this regime of blood and death. "

  • Election of Mr. Abdelbaset Sieda as leader of the Syrian National Council (11.06.12)

    France supports the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for a peaceful transition toward democracy. Faced with the regime’s relentless crackdown which again resulted in more than 170 deaths this weekend, the Syrian opposition must be able to agree, in a spirit of openness and unity, on a common vision of the Syria of tomorrow.

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 11.06.12)

    We are coordinating with all our partners in the international community who support the effective implementation of the 6-point plan of the Joint Special Envoy, Kofi Annan, aimed at ensuring a democratic transition that will respond to the aspirations of the Syrian people.

  • Syria – Paris Conference (06.07.12)

    Given the troubling deterioration of the situation in Syria, and as President Hollande announced, France has decided to hold in Paris on July 6 the third ministerial meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People group, following those held in Tunis and Istanbul.

  • Syrian ambassador expelled (29.05.12)

    In accordance with the provisions of Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961, the French authorities have declared Ms. Lamia Chakkour, in her capacity as Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as two other embassy officials, personae non gratae.

  • Violence in Syria (16.05.12)

    We condemn in the strongest possible terms the further killings perpetrated by the Syrian regime’s forces against their own people. We especially condemn the shootings carried out by these forces during the funeral in Khan Cheikhoun which left 20 people dead, as well as the attack against the UN observer convoy. It is the responsibility of the Syrian authorities to ensure the protection and safety of the observers.

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 14.05.12)

    France calls on the UN observers to exercise the utmost vigilance and reaffirms the urgent need to swiftly deploy more observers so that the international community may be fully informed of the Syrian reality and so that their presence will discourage the continuation of this crime against humanity.

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 09.05.12)

    The security and the integrity of the mission must be scrupulously respected, as stipulated by UN Security Council resolutions 2042 and 2043. The Syrian authorities’ primary responsibility is to guarantee this security while ensuring the mission’s full freedom of movement.

  • Syria (Q&A - Excerpt from the daily press briefing - 07.05.12)

    The speech that Mr. Kofi Annan will deliver to the Security Council tomorrow, Tuesday, May 8 in New York will be critical in order to take stock of the efforts under way. The Security Council will examine the situation as observed by the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) and will have to swiftly draw the consequences.

  • Syria – Killing of students from Aleppo University (03.05.12)

    We note once again that Damascus is failing to comply with its commitments and is continuing the crackdown. France again calls for the immediate and full implementation of the provisions set forth in the 6-point plan proposed by the Joint UN and Arab League Special Envoy.

  • Turkey – Syria – Syrian refugees (06.04.12)

    These large movements of refugees are a direct result of the Syrian authorities’ continued use of violence, and particular that of heavy weapons in cities, with tragic humanitarian consequences. In the current situation, it is vital to guarantee real humanitarian access in Syria in order to help the civilian population. It is in this urgent context that the Syrian authorities are implementing Kofi Annan’s plan, which they claim to have accepted

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