Attachments
As delivered
Mr. President (Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Foreign Minister of Denmark),
- It is less than four months since the fall of the former Syrian regime and the opening of a new era in Syria’s history. The legacies of 14 years of war and conflict and five decades of one-man rule are huge. So are the immediate challenges facing the Syrians today. The great hopes and huge fears of the Syrian people have been starkly laid bare this past month. Many rejoiced at being able to gather in public spaces without fear to mark the events of 14 years ago, and more recently many were able to openly celebrate Nowruz.
But many others faced a harrowing episode of devastating violence on the coast, resulting in mass civilian casualties and heightening fear and anxiety in many quarters about the future. Let me turn to this immediately.
Mr. President,
2. On Thursday March 6, armed groups associated with the former regime attacked and ambushed caretaker authority forces across the coastal region. Reports indicate attacks on military and internal security targets, and also several hospitals. The scale and sophistication of the attacks were striking, with many claimed by groups of former regime officers. The caretaker authorities have claimed influence from external actors too.
3. That same day, Mr. President, forces streamed into the coast from other parts of Syria - including forces under the control of, or affiliated, or at least nominally associated with the caretaker Ministry of Defense, including foreign fighters; and unaffiliated groups taking up arms spontaneously. Serious armed confrontations ensued, resulting in significant numbers of casualties among the warring factions.
4. But far more disturbing was the appalling civilian death toll, including widespread summary killings of civilians and unarmed individuals, including accounts of entire families executed at point blank, and widespread footage of grave violations of a plainly sectarian and retaliatory nature – [including] singling out Alawites.
6. The situation was comparatively calmed after several days. However, we continue to receive reports of harassment and intimidation, including with heavy sectarian overtones.
There have been reports of reinforcement of security presence in the area. Meanwhile, a leader of former regime remnants has issued a video vowing to continue the fight.