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    February 24, 2012

Clinton Lashes Out at Syria, Russia, China

   Al Pessin | Tunis, Tunisia
   US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at a news conference
   following the Friends of Syria Conference in Tunis, Tunisia, February
   24, 2012.
   Photo: Reuters
   US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at a news conference
   following the Friends of Syria Conference in Tunis, Tunisia, February
   24, 2012.

   U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lashed out at Russia and China
   over their Syria policy Friday, at the conclusion of a meeting in Tunis
   designed to increase pressure on the Syrian regime and its supporters
   to allow democratic change.
   Secretary Clinton said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will have even
   more blood on his hands if he does not stop the violence and allow
   humanitarian aid to reach civilian areas his troops have been shelling
   for weeks. But she reserved some of her harshest words for Assad's main
   international supporters, Russia and China, who vetoed a U.N. Security
   Council resolution that would have condemned him.
   'They are setting themselves against the aspirations not only of the
   Syrian people, but of the entire Arab Spring, the Arab awakening. It's
   quite distressing to see two permanent members of the Security Council
   using their veto when people are being murdered," said Clinton. "It is
   just despicable. And I ask, 'Whose side are they on?' They are clearly
   not on the side of the Syrian people.'
   Russia, China called out
   Clinton said the Russian, Chinese and Syrian positions are contrary to
   history and are not sustainable.
   She also said several times that there are signs that the network of
   domestic support around Assad is cracking, and she called on members of
   his security services, in particular, to break with the regime.
   'Their continuing to kill their brothers and sisters is a stain on
   their honor. Their refusal to continue this slaughter will make them
   heroes in the eyes of not only Syrians, but people of conscience
   everywhere,' said Clinton.

   "Friends of Syria" Key Facts
     * Who: More than 73 entities, including the United States, European
       and Arab nations, the United Nations, the Arab League, the African
       Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Key Syrian ally, Russia,
       will not attend.
     * What: An international meeting on Syria proposed by France and the
       United States
     * Where: Tunis, Tunisia
     * When: February 24, 2012
     * Why: To increase sanctions to force Syrian President Bashar
       al-Assad to step down, to demand humanitarian access to places
       under government siege, and to support Syrian opposition groups
       with a power transition plan.

   The secretary spoke after a long afternoon of meetings at the
   conference of the 70 countries and organizations that call themselves
   the Friends of the Syrian People. The meeting agreed to intensify
   efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to besieged Syrian towns, but only
   if the Syrian government provides safe passage. The meeting did not
   discuss sending foreign troops, and there was no agreement on a request
   for arms from the main Syrian opposition group at the meeting, the
   Syrian National Council.

   Growing network
   Reuters quoted one member of the Council as being disappointed in the
   meeting, and some Arab delegations also were reported to have wanted to
   move on arms sales. One human rights group, Avaaz, said the meeting
   'failed to go far enough fast enough' to end the shelling and deliver
   aid.
   The meeting agreed to continue to work with the Council, and called on
   it to further broaden its support inside Syria. Tunisia's foreign
   minister said the Council could be recognized as the sole legitimate
   representative of the Syrian people at the Friends' meeting in Turkey
   in March, or the following one, planned for France in April.
   Delegates also agreed to increase sanctions on the Assad regime,
   including possible travel bans on senior Syrian officials, freezing
   their assets, boycotting Syrian oil, suspending new investments and
   beginning to close embassies and consulates. They want Assad to step
   down in favor of a transitional council leading to elections and a new
   constitution.
   Clinton said members of the Syrian regime must be held accountable for
   the current violence, which human rights groups say has killed about
   9,000 civilians. She said Assad's days in office are numbered, and that
   she deeply regrets that there will be more killing before he goes.
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