With the Syrians expressing despair on their battle for a regime change, the United States today assured the Syrian people that they are not alone in the battle and the international community will be launching greater pressure against the regime.
In her remarks during camera spray following meeting with Syrian National Council in Turkey, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the international community has been working very hard to try to figure out ways to help those inside Syria who are bearing the brunt of the brutality of the Assad regime.
“We are painfully aware of how brutal the actions by the regime have been.” -Ms. Clinton
The Syrian National Council has been working hard to organize different Syrians behind a unified approach because, until recently, it was hard to know how to help, she highlighted.
She stresses that there was not the kind of organized effort, and there was no place within Syria that the opposition controlled, which makes it very difficult to assist.
However, Ms. Clinton noted that there is a lot of progress being made in bringing the international community together.
“I think you will see in the communique today that there are concrete steps that are being taken.” -Ms. Clinton
She says it is in honor and memory of the sacrifices of those who have been fighting and dying for their freedom, which is something that certainly the United States deeply honors.
There is going to be a lot of work ahead, however.
The international community must have a close coordination, which is what the United States has been working toward, Ms. Clinton stressed.
However, with the announcements coming from the meeting today, there will be greater pressure on the regime, there will be more assistance of all kinds for the Syrian National Council, there will be more humanitarian assistance, that the people inside Syria should know they are not alone, Ms. Clinton underlined.
Even with the implementation of regional and international resolve to end Syria’s conflict, Assad regime has intensified even more its vicious campaign of attacks against the Syrian people.
Reports say that large numbers of Syrians are living every day under siege, deprived of basic necessities including food, clean water and medical supplies.
Women and children are wounded and dying for lack of treatment. Innocent people are detained and tortured, and their families left to fear the worst.
All of the elements of U.S. policy towards Syria are channeled toward accelerating the arrival of that tipping point.
Through the Friends of the Syrian People group, they are translating international consensus into action.
The Group is galvanizing international partners to implement more effective sanctions and to deepen the regime’s isolation.
It is supporting the Arab League’s and now the UN General Assembly’s call for an immediate transition in Syria.
The Group is moving ahead also with humanitarian assistance for the Syrian people, demanding that attacks cease and access be granted.
The Group is also engaging with the Syrian opposition on their vision for Syria’s future, a proud and democratic Syria that upholds the rights and responsibilities of all of its citizens regardless of their religion, their gender or their ethnicity.
Since the protests began on 26th January this year, the Assad regime’s violent response has lead to the death of more than 5,000 people. Many more have been injured, and thousands of protesters have been detained.
The United States fully shares and supports the role of the Arab League on Syria. The United States believes that the Arab league is taking an important responsibility on its shoulders and trying to find ways to protect the citizens of Syria.