Committee Opinion | Doc. 13048 | 03 October 2012
The European response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria
Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy
A. Conclusions of the committee
(open)B. Proposed amendments
(open)Amendment A (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 3, replace the words “the persistence of the crisis” with the following words:
“the dramatic deterioration of the conflict, which has escalated into a full-fledged civil war,”.
Amendment B (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 4, replace the words “the acts” with the words “all acts”.
Amendment C (to the draft resolution)
At the end of paragraph 4, add the following text:
“It particularly condemns the continuing, widespread, systematic and gross human rights violations amounting to crimes against humanity committed by the Syrian military and security forces, such as summary executions, torture and sexual violence, including of and against children. The Assembly reiterates that all allegations of violations and crimes must be properly investigated and their perpetrators, whoever they may be, must be brought to justice, including, as appropriate, before the International Criminal Court.”
Amendment D (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 5, at the end of the first sentence add the words: “, as it is in certain areas of Syria itself.”
Amendment E (to the draft resolution)
Delete paragraph 9.
Amendment F (to the draft resolution)
After paragraph 10, insert the following paragraph:
“The Assembly is convinced that the problems raised by the dramatic situation of refugees and displaced persons in Syria and in neighbouring countries can only be solved if there are prospects of peace. And this will only be possible through a political solution to the conflict. For this purpose, it is indispensable that:
– a common initiative of the international community emerges;
– more voices among the ranks of the supporters of the regime seriously consider the prospect of a political transition;
– extremist and fundamentalist forces among the ranks of the opposition are marginalised, and the opposition realises that a military solution is a mere delusion;
– more efforts are made to convince the Syrian democratic opposition to unify around a common political platform and leadership, in order to be ready for the political transition.”
Amendment G (to the draft resolution)
In paragraph 12, after the words “Security Council”, place the rest of the paragraph as a first sub-paragraph and add a second sub-paragraph which reads as follows:
“– agree on a common initiative which will set the conditions for a political solution to the conflict and generate the prospects of peace”.
Amendment H (to the draft resolution)
After paragraph 13.8, add the following sub-paragraph:
“recognise the urgent need to provide vital supplies, including food, clothing, medical aid and temporary shelter both to displaced persons in Syria and to Syrian refugees in bordering countries before the onset of winter.”
Amendment I (to the draft resolution)
After paragraph 14, add the following paragraph:
“The Assembly reiterates that the possibility of eliminating violence and embracing the change for which so many lives have been sacrificed can open up to Syria only through a political solution.”