Canada Welcomes Adoption of UN Security Council Plan for Syria

News Release

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**March 21, 2012 -** Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:

“I welcome the United Nations Security Council’s presidential statement today that endorsed Kofi Annan’s plan for Syria. It will ensure that humanitarian assistance will get to those who so desperately need it.

“However, this is just the first step and much remains to be done. It is imperative that all countries stand firmly behind this plan and continue to put pressure on the current regime.

“The main obstacle to peace and stability in Syria remains the Assad regime and its backers who persist in killing Syrian civilians. Canada’s position has not changed: Assad must go. And the aspirations of the Syrian people to live in peace must be met.

“We call on the United Nations Security Council to adopt a clear and binding resolution condemning outright the ongoing violence.

“Those who continue to support the regime only share in Assad’s responsibility for the continued death and destruction that Syrians are suffering; history will be their judge.

“Change will come. The Syrian people will have their day.”