International reactions to the Syrian civil war ranged from support for the government to calls for the government to dissolve. The Arab League, United Nations and Western governments in 2011 quickly condemned the Syrian government's response to the protests which later evolved into the Syrian civil war as overly heavy-handed and violent. Many Middle Eastern governments initially expressed support for the government and its "security measures", but as the death toll mounted, especially in Hama, they switched to a more balanced approach, criticizing violence from both government and protesters. Russia and China vetoed two attempts at United Nations Security Council sanctions against the Syrian government.
International peace plans
Since late 2011, peace plans or initiatives have been launched by the Arab League, Russia, and the United Nations. A UN-backed international peace conference Geneva II Middle East peace conference was scheduled for 22 January 2014.
Supranational bodies
United Nations
2011 Statements On 18 March, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described the use of force against protesters by the Syrian authorities as "unacceptable".
On 22 March, UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay urged the Syrian government to investigate the violence.
On 3 August, the United Nations Security Council, in a non-binding statement, condemned Syrian authorities for attacking civilians, in its first pronouncement on Syria since March. The statement, which did not threaten economic sanctions and lacked the full stature of a resolution, was disavowed by Security Council member Lebanon.
Investigation on human rights violations
On 22 August 2011, the 'Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic' was set up by the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate human rights violations during the Syrian civil war. In September 2012 the Inquiry's Commissioners became Carla del Ponte and Vitit Muntarbhorn.Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
Security Council resolutions
4 October 2011, Russia and China vetoed a Europe-drafted UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning Assad's government. The resolution would have threatened the Syrian government with targeted sanctions given continued military actions against protestors.
In December 2011, Russia introduced its own draft resolution, assigning blame to both the Syrian government and opposition. US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, stated that the US would not support the Russian resolution."Syria crisis: Russia circulates surprise UN resolution", BBC, London, 16 December 2011. Retrieved on 30 March 2020.
2012
On 31 January 2012, the Security Council discussed a Western-Arab resolution that demanded an immediate halt to military action,Syrian pounding of Homs 'most violent' so far, prevents evacuation, relief efforts , Al Arabiya News, 17 February 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2013. supported the latest (December 2011) Arab League peace planNRC Handelsblad (Netherlands), 1 February 2012. and called on Assad to cede power. On 4 February, Russia and China vetoed this resolution.
A similar text was advanced in the UN General Assembly, which on 16 February 2012 endorsed this non-binding resolution. Russia, China and ten other nations voted against it.
2013
On 27 September 2013, the UNSC passed United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118, which enshrined Syria's agreement to surrender its chemical weapons.
Arab League
August–September 2011
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby called for an end to the violence on 7 August, specifically saying the Syrian government should "stop all acts of violence" at once.
On 27 August, the Arab League condemned the crackdown and dispatched Elaraby on an "urgent mission" to Syria. After meeting with Assad on 10 September, Elaraby told reporters, "I heard from him an understanding of the situation and he showed me a series of measures taken by the Syrian government that focused on national dialogue."
November–December 2011
In early November the Arab League announced that the Syrian Government had agreed to end its crackdown, remove troops, release prisoners, begin a dialog with its citizens and allow observers and journalists free movement.
On 12 November 2011, the Arab League voted to suspend Syria from the organization if Al-Assad's government failed to stop military action by 16 November and invited Syria's opposition parties to join talks in the League's Cairo headquarters. Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Mauritania, and Yemen voted against the action, while Iraq abstained. The League warned of possible sanctions against Syria. On 16 November the Arab League suspended Syria's membership.NRC Handelsblad (Netherlands), 17 November 2011.
On 18 December the Arab League told Syria that it would convey its draft resolution by five Arab League members asking the UNSC to end the violence if the Syrian government failed to comply within two weeks. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, the Qatari Prime Minister and head of the Arab League ministerial committee admitted: "If the Syrian crisis is not solved within two weeks, the matter will be beyond the control of Arab countries."
The Arab League on 31 August or 1 September 2013 called on the United Nations to intervene in Syria.Prof. Maurits Berger, in newspaper 'NRC Handelsblad' (Netherlands), 3 September 2013
European Union
On 22 March 2011, Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, issued a statement saying that the European Union "strongly condemns the violent repression, including through the use of live ammunition, of peaceful protests in various locations across Syria". Ashton reiterated the EU's condemnation on 31 July after military operations in the city of Hama resulted in at least 136 deaths. Ashton said on 18 August, "The EU notes the complete loss of Bashar al-Assad's legitimacy in the eyes of the Syrian people and the necessity for him to step aside."
Gulf Cooperation Council
In a 6 August 2011 joint statement of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments, the Persian Gulf grouping criticized "mounting violence and the excessive use of force which resulted in killing and wounding large numbers" and "express[ed] sorrow for the continuous bloodshed". The statement also affirmed the GCC's support for Syria's "security, stability, and unity", evidently a reference to the government's repeated accusations of outside interference.
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called for an immediate stop to the violent crackdown on 13 August 2011. In August, 2012, at its 4th Extraordinary Session, the OIC voted to suspend Syrian membership.
Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas
At a summit on 10 September 2011, the ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America) regional bloc expressed support for the Syrian government and warned against an international military intervention in Syria.
G8
The G8 leaders, on their summit in Northern Ireland, June 2013, hosted by UK Prime Minister Cameron, stated in their concluding declaration that the G8 countries:
endorse the idea of the Geneva II peace conference; promise an additional $1.5 billion for humanitarian aid in and around Syria; call for the destruction and expulsion from Syria of all non-state actors linked to terrorism, as for example those affiliated to Al-Qaeda.. (See also the included Lough Erne 2013 G8 Leaders Communique, in 'window' on this webpage, for G8 statements concerning the Syria conflict)
States
China
The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu said on 24 May 2011: "China believes that when it comes to properly handling the current Syrian situation, it is the correct direction and major approach to resolve the internal differences through political dialogue and maintain its national stability as well as the overall stability and security of the Middle East. The future of Syria should be independently decided by the Syrian people themselves free from external interference. We hope the international community continues to play a constructive role in this regard." On 4 October 2011, Russia and China vetoed a resolution that would have threatened the Syrian government with targeted sanctions if it continued military actions, claiming they wanted to prevent a "Libyan intervention scenario". Later they admonished the Syrian Government, expressing their desire for them to reform and respect the will of the Syrian people.
Chinese media blamed violence in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in June 2013 on extremists from Syria. The Global Times reported that members of an East Turkestan faction had traveled from Turkey to Syria. "This Global Times reporter has recently exclusively learned from the Chinese anti-terrorism authorities that since 2012, some members of the 'East Turkestan' faction have entered Syria from Turkey, participated in extremist, religious and terrorist organisations within the Syrian opposition forces and fought against the Syrian army. At the same time, these elements from 'East Turkestan' have identified candidates to sneak into Chinese territory to plan and execute terrorist attacks." It also cited the arrest of 23-year-old Maimaiti Aili, of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and said that he had fought in the Syrian civil war. Dilxat Raxit, the Sweden-based spokesman for the World Uyghur Congress, denied Uyghur involvement. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying did not directly respond to the claims, but said that China has "also noted that in recent years East Turkestan terrorist forces and international terrorist organizations have been uniting, not only threatening China's national security but also the peace and stability of relevant countries and regions."
Iran
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spoke in favour of the Syrian government in regard to the uprising – "In Syria, the hand of America and Israel is evident" and "Wherever a movement is Islamic, populist and anti-U.S., we support it". The Guardian reported that the Iranian government was assisting the Syrian government with riot control equipment, intelligence monitoring techniques, oil supply and snipers. Allegedly Iran sent the Syrian government $9 billion to help it withstand the sanctions."Syria's crisis: The long road to Damascus: There are signs that the Syrian regime may become still more violent", The Economist, dated 11 Feb 2012.
Then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in an interview with the Lebanese television news network Al-Manar on 25 August 2011 that the violence should end and "the people and government of Syria" should join in a national dialogue. "When there is a problem between the people and their leaders, they must sit down together to reach a solution, away from violence", Ahmadinejad said. However, he told Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar on 26 August that he believed that any "interference of foreigners and domineering powers in the regional countries' internal affairs would complicate the situation".
Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on 27 August 2011, said the Syrian government should respond to the people's "legitimate demands". However, Salehi also cautioned that a "power vacuum" in Syria could have "unprecedented repercussions" for the region.
On 15 August, while visiting Cairo, high-ranking Iranian parliamentarian Alaeddin Boroujerdi condemned the actions of Syrian protesters, claiming they were U.S. agents trying to destabilize Syria to benefit Israel. On the same day an alleged defector from the Syrian secret police claimed that Iranian soldiers, including snipers, were working alongside Syrian police, paramilitary, and military units fighting to put down the uprising.