Statement

Syrian Coalition

Istanbul, Turkey

April 24, 2013

The Syrian Coalition is highly disappointed with NATO’s Secretary General, Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s, conclusions regarding intervention in Syria. Mr. Rasmussen confirmed that NATO has no intention of intervening in Syria within the parameters laid out by the Syrian Coalition. These conclusions were made after Mr. Rasmussen’s own statements about the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria, and the dangers and risks of the Syrian crisis extending beyond Syria’s borders.

NATO has stated that it will only monitor the activity of scud missiles being launched from the Assad camps near Damascus to neighboring towns and villages to the north. NATO’s radars will ensure that those missiles fall within the borders of Syria. However, the fact that these missiles will fall over the heads of innocent civilians and children seems to be of no concern to NATO, even though NATO has the forces and preventive tools to stop these missiles. The Syrian Coalition finds it tragic that NATO has the power to stop further loss of life in Syria, but chooses not to take that course of action.

We do not expect the murderous behaviour of Assad’s regime to change in the near future, and thus we are certain that tomorrow will bring news of more innocent civilians dead in Syria. Therefore, it is our duty to remind the international community once more of the grave dangers facing civilians in all regions of Syria. The international community must rise to its great moral and ethical responsibilities and put an end to this bloodshed. History will not only condemn the murderous criminals, but also those who had the power to intervene but chose to be idle.