News Release

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**August 16, 2012 -** Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:

“Canada welcomes the decision of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to suspend Syria’s membership. We also congratulate the OIC on its leadership with this important issue.

“The Assad regime continues to prove to the rest of the world that it has no regard for human life. Each day sees a new example of the regime’s callous behaviour.

“Recent reports describe the deaths of 30 people, and the wounding of 150 following an air strike by Syrian forces.

“The regime’s abhorrent behaviour knows no bounds.

“This decision only further emphasizes the growing international isolation of the regime.

“Now is the time for the UN Security Council to join international consensus and put an end to the brutality of the Assad regime. We call on all Security Council members to approve tough, binding economic sanctions without delay.

“Those who shelter the regime from international sanctions will be directly responsible for the prolonged violence and instability throughout the region.”