News Release

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**March 15, 2013 -** Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:

“In the 24 violent months since the Syrian people began rising up against the Assad regime, tens of thousands of Syrians have been killed, more than a million have fled to neighbouring countries, and many more have been displaced within Syria’s borders.

“Canada continues to stand resolutely with the people of Syria in this very dark period.

“We have acted with like-minded countries, and Canada stands ready to do more. We look forward to a day when the bloodshed has ended, and the work of building a peaceful, democratic, pluralistic Syria can begin.”

Canada has committed $48.5 million to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of Syrians inside and outside the country.

Canadian sanctions against the Syrian regime are among the toughest in the world. They are designed to increase the pressure on Assad to end the bloodshed and relinquish power while cutting off access to the financing that sustains its repressive apparatus.