The Norwegian foreign ministry said it is monitoring the Russian military buildup in Syria with the utmost concern, pointing out that the reports coming out about Russia’s bombing of non-ISIS targets complicate efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. The ministry stressed that Russia has to clarify the objectives of its military campaign in Syria.
The Syrian Coalition received a letter from the Norwegian foreign ministry condemning the Russian airstrikes on Syria, after the Coalition’s representative to Norway Hanan al-Balkhi briefed Norwegian officials on the latest developments regarding civilian deaths. The ministry emphasized that Norway is concerned about reports the Russian airstrikes are causing civilian casualties, adding that Norway condemns all violations of human rights and international law as well as all forms of violence in Syria.
The letter pointed out that the Geneva Communiqué of 2012 remains the basis of any political solution to the crisis, adding that the Norwegian government supports the efforts of the UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura.
The letter also said that the Syrian people has long suffered due to the war waged by the Assad regime, which has killed over 250,000 people, forced nearly four million to seek refuge outside Syria and internally displaced around 6-7 million. That is why a political solution is badly needed to stop war and suffering in Syria.
The Norwegian foreign ministry noted that the ongoing war in Syria has led to one of the worst humanitarian disasters since World War II, stressing that Norway contributes to the alleviation of suffering through offering humanitarian support to the Syrian people. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
