Friends of Syria Group

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The second Group of Friends of the Syrian People meeting in Istanbul, Turkey on 1 April 2012

The Group of Friends of the Syrian People[1] (sometimes: Friends of Syria Group or Friends of the Syrian People Group or Friends of Democratic Syria or simply Friends of Syria) is an international diplomatic collective of countries and bodies convening periodically on the topic of Syria outside the U.N. Security Council. The collective was created in response to a Russian and Chinese veto on a Security Council resolution condemning Syria; American president Barack Obama has stated that it was organized by the United States.[2]

Contents

History [edit]

The group was initiated by then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy,[3] and its first meeting took place on 24 February in Tunisia.[4] The second meeting took place on 1 April in Istanbul, Turkey.[5] The third meeting of the Friends of Syria took place in Paris in early July 2012.[6] Now in Marrakesh, Morocco is preparing the Fourth Summit of the Group of Friends of Syria.

Istanbul conference [edit]

Participants at the Istanbul conference on 1 April 2012

Seventy nations participated in the conference held on 1 April 2012 to support Syrian opposition and increase pressure on the Syrian government. The Syrian National Council claiming the opposition is now united called for "serious action" and said they will "take charge of the payment of fixed salaries of Free Syrian Army". The Turkish PM defended what he called "Syrians' right to self-defence" and demanded the international community to speak up for the Syrian people. "We also believe the international community has a moral obligation to act. The bloodshed in Syria must stop," He added. Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (Qatari Prime Minister), Arab League Secretariat and Hillary Clinton (US secretary of state) supported taking stronger measures against the Syrian government.[5]

The Government-owned Syrian Arab News Agency denounced the meeting calling it "a series of related circles of conspiracy against Syria" and identified participants as "enemies of Syria".[5]

Paris conference [edit]

[icon] This section requires expansion. (July 2012)

The third meeting of the Friends of Syria group opened on 6 July 2012 in Paris, France. Speakers addressing the meeting included William Hague, Laurent Fabius, Ahmet Davutoğlu, and Hillary Clinton.[6]

Marrakesh conference [edit]

The fourth meeting of the Friends of Syria group opened on 11 December 2012 in Marrakesh, Morocco.[citation needed]

Participants [edit]

The participants at the 24–25 February Tunis Conference, 1 April Istanbul Conference, 6 July Paris Conference and the 11 December Marrakesh Conference were as follows:

Countries [edit]

  •  Albania[7]
  •  Algeria[8]
  •  Argentina
  •  Armenia
  •  Austria[9]
  •  Australia[10]
  •  Bahrain[11]
  •  Belgium[12]
  •  Belize
  •  Bosnia and Herzegovina
  •  Brazil[13]
  •  Bulgaria[14]
  •  Canada[15]
  •  Chile
  •  Colombia
  •  Comoros
  •  Costa Rica
  •  Croatia
  •  Cyprus[16]
  •  Czech Republic[17]
  •  Democratic Republic of Congo
  •  Denmark[18]
  •  Djibouti[19]
  •  Dominican Republic
  •  East Timor
  •  Egypt[20]
  •  El Salvador
  •  Estonia[18]
  •  Finland[18][21]
  •  France[22][23]
  •  Georgia
  •  Germany[23]
  •  Greece[24]
  •  Guatemala
  •  Haiti
  •  Honduras
  •  Hungary[25]
  •  Iceland[18]
  •  India[26]
  •  Indonesia[27]
  •  Iraq[28]
  •  Ireland[29]
  •  Italy[30]
  •  Japan[31]
  •  Jordan[32]
  •  Kosovo
  •  Kuwait[33]
  •  Kyrgyzstan
  •  Latvia[18]
  •  Lebanon
  •  Libya[34]
  •  Lithuania[18]
  •  Luxembourg[35]
  •  Malaysia[19]
  •  Malta[19]
  •  Mauritania[36]
  •  Mexico
  •  Moldova
  •  Morocco[37]
  •  Netherlands[38]
  •  New Zealand
  •  Nigeria[39]
  •  Norway[18]
  •  Oman[40]
  •  Pakistan
  •  Palestine
  •  Panama
  •  Paraguay
  •  Peru
  •  Philippines
  •  Poland[41]
  •  Portugal[42]
  •  Qatar[23]
  •  Romania[43]
  •  Saudi Arabia[23]
  •  Sierra Leone
  •  Singapore
  •  Slovenia[44]
  •  Slovakia[45]
  •  South Africa
  •  South Korea[27]
  •  Spain[46]
  •  Sweden[18]
  •  Tunisia[23]
  •  Turkey[47]
  •  Uganda
  •  Ukraine
  •  United Arab Emirates[48]
  •  United Kingdom[49]
  •  United States[50]
  •  Uruguay
  •  Yemen
  •  Zambia

Observers [edit]

  •  Holy See (Vatican City)[51]

Syrian opposition groups [edit]

International organisations [edit]

International organizations participating in the Friends of Syria conference included:[52]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "The Second Conference of the Group of Friends of the Syrian People will take place in İstanbul". Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2012-07-06. 
  2. ^ Barack Obama, Mitt Romney (22 October 2012). Final Presidential Debate 2012 (Film). Boca Raton, FL: ABC News. 
  3. ^ "France, partners planning Syria crisis group: Sarkozy". Reuters. 4 Feb 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012. 
  4. ^ "'Friends of Syria' to call for UN to plan mission". Associated Press. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012. 
  5. ^ a b c Staff writer (1 April 2012). "Syria opposition: Don't prolong catastrophe". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 1 April 2012. 
  6. ^ a b "'Friends of Syria' push for tougher sanctions". France 24. 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012. 
  7. ^ "Albania joins the International Group of "Friends of Syria"". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  8. ^ (in French) "M. Medelci réitère à Tunis l’importance d’un règlement de la question syrienne dans un cadre arabe". Embassy of Algeria in Tunisia. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07. 
  9. ^ "Spindelegger: "Humanitarian disaster in Syria aggravating by the day"". Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  10. ^ "Emerson takes foreign reins". Sydney Morning Herald. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  11. ^ "Bahrain’s FM attends Friends of Syria Conference". 24x7 News. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  12. ^ "Minister Reynders meets Mr Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations". Kingdom of Belgium Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Development Cooperation. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  13. ^ (in Portuguese) "Brasil defende na Turquia busca de consenso por meio de ações pacíficas". Government of Brazil. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07. 
  14. ^ "Bulgaria Joins First 'Friends of Syria' Meeting". Sofia News Agency. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  15. ^ "Baird to attend Friends of Syria meeting in Tunis". Canada.com. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  16. ^ "The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis participated in the International Conference of the Syrian People’s Group of Friends, in Tunis". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  17. ^ "Minister Schwarzenberg attends the international inaugural meeting of Friends of Syria Group". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h "Friends of the Syrian People Conference – Nordic-Baltic Statement". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  19. ^ a b c "Photo". Indonesia Embassy in Tunisia. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-08. 
  20. ^ "Egypt: Foreign Minister – Country Directly Concerned About Syria". allAfrica.com. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07. 
  21. ^ "Foreign Minister Tuomioja participates in ‘Friends of Syria’ conference in Tunisia". Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-23. 
  22. ^ "http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/syria-295/events-5888/article/alain-juppe-s-participation-in-the-16906". French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  23. ^ a b c d e "Friends of the Syria remain divided". Deutsche Welle. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  24. ^ "Briefing of diplomatic correspondents by Foreign Ministry spokesman Gregory Delavekouras". Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  25. ^ http://www.nepszava.hu/articles/article.php?id=536186#null
  26. ^ "India to join 'Friends of Syria' in Tunisia". ZeeNews India. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  27. ^ a b c "The Ambassador expressed the Indonesian position concerning conflict in Syria in the Friends of Syria Conference". Indonesia Embassy in Tunisia. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07. 
  28. ^ "Hoshyar Zebari". Hoshyar Zebari, Foreign Minister of Iraq via Twitter. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07. 
  29. ^ "Ireland to take part in ‘Friends of Syria’ conference". thejournal.ie. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  30. ^ "Syria: "Friends of Syria" meeting in Tunis. Kofi Annan appointed joint UN-Arab League envoy". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  31. ^ "Emergency Grant Aid for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons by the Political Instability in Syria". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  32. ^ "Jordan to Attend Friends of Syria Conference". Naharnet. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  33. ^ "Kuwait FM heads to Tunisia for "Friends of Syria" conf.". Kuwait News Agency. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  34. ^ (in Arabic) "وزير الخارجية والتعاون الدولي يؤكد مجددا وقوف الشعب الليبي مع الشعب السوري في محنته". Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  35. ^ (in French) "Jean Asselborn à la conférence internationale des " Amis du peuple syrien ", vendredi le 24 février 2012 à Tunis". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. 25 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  36. ^ (in French) "La Mauritanie et la Démocratie en Syrie". Taqadoumy. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07. 
  37. ^ "Morocco to take part in Friends of Syria meeting in Tunis". Morocco World News. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  38. ^ "Dutch FM to attend Syria conference". Radio Netherlands Worldwide. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  39. ^ "Photo". Indonesia Embassy in Tunisia. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-08. 
  40. ^ "'Friends of Syria' ready ultimatum for Assad". Today's Zaman. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07. 
  41. ^ "Poland Participates in Conference on Syria in Tunis". Poland.pl. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  42. ^ "Secretário de Estado dos Assuntos Europeus representa Portugal na Conferência de Tunes sobre a Síria" (in Portuguese)). SIC Noticias. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-07. 
  43. ^ "Bogdan Aurescu at "Friends of Syrian People" meeting". Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  44. ^ "Foreign Ministry statement on the situation in Syria". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  45. ^ "Minister Lajčák attends Third Meeting of Group of Friends of the Syrian People". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  46. ^ "THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS ATTENDS THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE FRIENDS OF THE SYRIAN PEOPLE". Spanish Foreign Ministry. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  47. ^ "Speech Delivered by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at Group of Friends of Syrian People Meeting, 24 February 2012, Tunis". Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  48. ^ "Abdullah bin Zayed leads UAE's delegation to Friends of Syria conference in Tunis". UAE Interract. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  49. ^ "Foreign Secretary: "we have to intensify the pressure" on Syria". United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  50. ^ "Press Availability on the Meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People". US State Department. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 
  51. ^ "Holy See participates as an observer at Friends of Syria meeting". News.va. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-26. 
  52. ^ "Chairman's Conclusions of the International Conference of the Group of Friends of the Syrian People, 24 February". US Department of State. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-03. 

External links [edit]

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