Sharp Escalation of Regime Violence in Syria
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
January 30, 2012
The
United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the escalation
of the Syrian regime’s violent and brutal attacks on its own people. In
the past few days we have seen intensified Syrian security operations
all around the country which have killed hundreds of civilians.
The government has shelled civilian areas with mortars and tank fire
and brought down whole buildings on top of their occupants. The violence
has escalated to the point that the Arab League has had to suspend its
monitoring mission. The regime has failed to meet its commitments to the
Arab League to halt its acts of violence, withdraw its military forces
from residential areas, allow journalists and monitors to operate freely
and release prisoners arrested because of the current unrest.
The
Security Council must act and make clear to the Syrian regime that the
world community views its actions as a threat to peace and security. The violence must end, so that a new period of democratic transition can begin.
Tomorrow,
I will attend a United Nations Security Council meeting on Syria where
the international community should send a clear message of support to
the Syrian people: we stand with you. The Arab League is backing a
resolution that calls on the international community to support its
ongoing efforts, because the status quo is unsustainable. The longer the
Assad regime continues its attacks on the Syrian people and stands in
the way of a peaceful transition, the greater the concern that
instability will escalate and spill over throughout the region.
