Syria on the UN agenda

Press release in Arabic

“Norway has, together with key Arab and European countries, taken the initiative to bring the grave situation in Syria before the UN General Assembly,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

On Tuesday evening, the UN Third Committee adopted a resolution on the situation in Syria by an overwhelming majority. The resolution strongly condemns the Syrian authorities’ continued use of violence against their population and supports the Arab League’s efforts to find a solution to the unacceptable situation in the country.

The UN resolution calls on the Syrian authorities to implement the Arab League’s Plan of Action without further delay, and at the same time to cooperate fully and effectively with the independent international commission of inquiry dispatched by the Human Rights Council.

“This resolution is extremely important, given the deadlocked situation in the UN Security Council and the increasingly alarming situation in Syria. I would like to urge President Assad once again to step aside, and I expect to see the regime now enter into genuine dialogue with the opposition on democratic reforms,” stated Foreign Minister Støre.

122 countries voted in favour of the resolution, 13 voted against and 41 abstained. With the exception of Syria, all Arab states voted in favour of the resolution.