Security Council resolution 2118 (2013) [on use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic]
Symbol: S/RES/2118 (2013)
Date: 2013-09-27
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/68 [222] SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC SITUATION
Subjects: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons|Action Group for Syria|CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE|WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION|TERRORISM|SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC|REGIONAL SECURITY
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: AUSTRALIA
vote: yes
country: AZERBAIJAN
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GUATEMALA
vote: yes
country: LUXEMBOURG
vote: yes
country: MOROCCO
vote: yes
country: PAKISTAN
vote: yes
country: REPUBLIC OF KOREA
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: RWANDA
vote: yes
country: TOGO
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                S/RES/2118 (2013)
               Security Council                                              Distr.: General
                                                                             27 September 2013




               Resolution 2118 (2013)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7038th meeting, on
               27 September 2013

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling the Statements of its President of 3 August 2011, 21 March 2012,
               5 April 2012, and its resolutions 1540 (2004), 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012),
                     Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence and
               territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic,
                     Reaffirming that the proliferation of chemical weapons, as well as their means
               of delivery, constitutes a threat to international peace and security,
                    Recalling that the Syrian Arab Republic on 22 November 1968 acceded to the
               Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other
               Gases and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June
               1925,
                    Noting that on 14 September 2013, the Syrian Arab Republic deposited with
               the Secretary-General its instrument of accession to the Convention on the
               Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical
               Weapons and on their Destruction (Convention) and declared that it shall comply
               with its stipulations and observe them faithfully and sincerely, applying the
               Convention provisionally pending its entry into force for the Syrian Arab Republic,
                    Welcoming the establishment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
               Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian
               Arab Republic (the Mission) pursuant to General Assembly resolution 42/37 C
               (1987) of 30 November 1987, and reaffirmed by resolution 620 (1988) of 26 August
               1988, and expressing appreciation for the work of the Mission,
                     Acknowledging the report of 16 September 2013 (S/2013/553) by the Mission,
               underscoring the need for the Mission to fulfil its mandate, and emphasizing that
               future credible allegations of chemical weapons use in the Syrian Arab Republic
               should be investigated,
                     Deeply outraged by the use of chemical weapons on 21 August 2013 in Rif
               Damascus, as concluded in the Mission’s report, condemning the killing of civilians
               that resulted from it, affirming that the use of chemical weapons constitutes a



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               serious violation of international law, and stressing that those responsible for any
               use of chemical weapons must be held accountable,
                     Recalling the obligation under resolution 1540 (2004) that all States shall
               refrain from providing any form of support to non-State actors that attempt to
               develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use weapons of mass
               destruction, including chemical weapons, and their means of delivery,
                     Welcoming the Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons dated
               14 September 2013, in Geneva, between the Russian Federation and the United
               States of America (S/2013/565), with a view to ensuring the destruction of the
               Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons program in the soonest and safest
               manner, and expressing its commitment to the immediate international control over
               chemical weapons and their components in the Syrian Arab Republic,
                    Welcoming the decision of the Executive Council of the Organization for the
               Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) of 27 September 2013 establishing
               special procedures for the expeditious destruction of the Syrian Arab Republic’s
               chemical weapons program and stringent verification thereof, and expressing its
               determination to ensure the destruction of the Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical
               weapons program according to the timetable contained in the OPCW Executive
               Council decision of 27 September 2013,
                     Stressing that the only solution to the current crisis in the Syrian Arab
               Republic is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process based on the
               Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012, and emphasising the need to convene the
               international conference on Syria as soon as possible,
                    Determining that the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic
               constitutes a threat to international peace and security,
                     Underscoring that Member States are obligated under Article 25 of the Charter
               of the United Nations to accept and carry out the Council's decisions,
                     1.    Determines that the use of chemical weapons anywhere constitutes a
               threat to international peace and security;
                     2.   Condemns in the strongest terms any use of chemical weapons in the
               Syrian Arab Republic, in particular the attack on 21 August 2013, in violation of
               international law;
                    3.   Endorses the decision of the OPCW Executive Council 27 September
               2013, which contains special procedures for the expeditious destruction of the
               Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons program and stringent verification
               thereof and calls for its full implementation in the most expedient and safest
               manner;
                     4.    Decides that the Syrian Arab Republic shall not use, develop, produce,
               otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons, or transfer, directly or
               indirectly, chemical weapons to other States or non-State actors;
                    5.     Underscores that no party in Syria should use, develop, produce, acquire,
               stockpile, retain, or transfer chemical weapons;
                     6.   Decides that the Syrian Arab Republic shall comply with all aspects of
               the decision of the OPCW Executive Council of 27 September 2013 (Annex I);



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                 7.    Decides that the Syrian Arab Republic shall cooperate fully with the
           OPCW and the United Nations, including by complying with their relevant
           recommendations, by accepting personnel designated by the OPCW or the United
           Nations, by providing for and ensuring the security of activities undertaken by these
           personnel, by providing these personnel with immediate and unfettered access to
           and the right to inspect, in discharging their functions, any and all sites, and by
           allowing immediate and unfettered access to individuals that the OPCW has grounds
           to believe to be of importance for the purpose of its mandate, and decides that all
           parties in Syria shall cooperate fully in this regard;
                 8.   Decides to authorize an advance team of United Nations personnel to
           provide early assistance to OPCW activities in Syria, requests the Director-General
           of the OPCW and the Secretary-General to closely cooperate in the implementation
           of the Executive Council decision of 27 September 2013 and this resolution,
           including through their operational activities on the ground, and further requests the
           Secretary-General, in consultation with the Director-General of the OPCW and,
           where appropriate, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, to submit
           to the Council within 10 days of the adoption of this resolution recommendations
           regarding the role of the United Nations in eliminating the Syrian Arab Republic’s
           chemical weapons program;
                 9.   Notes that the Syrian Arab Republic is a party to the Convention on the
           Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, decides that OPCW-designated
           personnel undertaking activities provided for in this resolution or the decision of the
           OPCW Executive Council of 27 September 2013 shall enjoy the privileges and
           immunities contained in the Verification Annex, Part II(B) of the Chemical Weapons
           Convention, and calls on the Syrian Arab Republic to conclude modalities
           agreements with the United Nations and the OPCW;
                 10. Encourages Member States to provide support, including personnel,
           technical expertise, information, equipment, and financial and other resources and
           assistance, in coordination with the Director-General of the OPCW and the
           Secretary-General, to enable the OPCW and the United Nations to implement the
           elimination of the Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons program, and decides
           to authorize Member States to acquire, control, transport, transfer and destroy
           chemical weapons identified by the Director-General of the OPCW, consistent with
           the objective of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to ensure the elimination of the
           Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons program in the soonest and safest
           manner;
                11. Urges all Syrian parties and interested Member States with relevant
           capabilities to work closely together and with the OPCW and the United Nations to
           arrange for the security of the monitoring and destruction mission, recognizing the
           primary responsibility of the Syrian government in this regard;
                 12. Decides to review on a regular basis the implementation in the Syrian
           Arab Republic of the decision of the OPCW Executive Council of 27 September
           2013 and this resolution, and requests the Director-General of the OPCW to report
           to the Security Council, through the Secretary-General, who shall include relevant
           information on United Nations activities related to the implementation of this
           resolution, within 30 days and every month thereafter, and requests further the
           Director-General of the OPCW and the Secretary-General to report in a coordinated



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               manner, as needed, to the Security Council, non-compliance with this resolution or
               the OPCW Executive Council decision of 27 September 2013;
                     13. Reaffirms its readiness to consider promptly any reports of the OPCW
               under Article VIII of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which provides for the
               referral of cases of non-compliance to the United Nations Security Council;
                    14. Decides that Member States shall inform immediately the Security Council
               of any violation of resolution 1540 (2004), including acquisition by non-State actors
               of chemical weapons, their means of delivery and related materials in order to take
               necessary measures therefore;
                    15. Expresses its strong conviction that those individuals responsible for the
               use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic should be held accountable;
                     16. Endorses fully the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 (Annex II),
               which sets out a number of key steps beginning with the establishment of a
               transitional governing body exercising full executive powers, which could include
               members of the present Government and the opposition and other groups and shall
               be formed on the basis of mutual consent;
                    17. Calls for the convening, as soon as possible, of an international
               conference on Syria to implement the Geneva Communiqué, and calls upon all
               Syrian parties to engage seriously and constructively at the Geneva Conference on
               Syria, and underscores that they should be fully representative of the Syrian people
               and committed to the implementation of the Geneva Communiqué and to the
               achievement of stability and reconciliation;
                     18. Reaffirms that all Member States shall refrain from providing any form of
               support to non-State actors that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess,
               transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of
               delivery, and calls upon all Member States, in particular Member States
               neighbouring the Syrian Arab Republic, to report any violations of this paragraph to
               the Security Council immediately;
                    19. Demands that non-State actors not develop, acquire, manufacture,
               possess, transport, transfer, or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their
               means of delivery, and calls upon all Member States, in particular Member States
               neighbouring the Syrian Arab Republic, to report any actions inconsistent with this
               paragraph to the Security Council immediately;
                    20. Decides that all Member States shall prohibit the procurement of
               chemical weapons, related equipment, goods and technology or assistance from the
               Syrian Arab Republic by their nationals, or using their flagged vessels or aircraft,
               whether or not originating in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic;
                    21. Decides, in the event of non-compliance with this resolution, including
               unauthorized transfer of chemical weapons, or any use of chemical weapons by
               anyone in the Syrian Arab Republic, to impose measures under Chapter VII of the
               United Nations Charter;
                    22.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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Annex I
           OPCW Executive Council Decision
           Decision on destruction of Syrian chemical weapons

           The Executive Council,
           Recalling that following its Thirty-Second Meeting, 27 March 2013, the
           Chairperson of the Executive Council (hereinafter “the Council”) issued a statement
           (EC-M-32/2/Rev. 1, dated 27 March 2013) expressing “deep concern that chemical
           weapons may have been used in the Syrian Arab Republic,” and underlining that
           “the use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances would be
           reprehensible and completely contrary to the legal norms and standards of the
           international community”;
           Recalling also that the Third Review Conference (RC-3/3*, 19 April 2013)
           expressed “deep concern that chemical weapons may have been used in the Syrian
           Arab Republic and underlined that use of chemical weapons by anyone under any
           circumstances would be reprehensible and completely contrary to the legal norms
           and standards of the international community”;
           Noting the “Report on the Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons in the Ghouta area of
           Damascus on 21 August 2013,” (S/2013/553, dated 16 September 2013) prepared by
           the United Nations Mission to Investigate Allegations of the Use of Chemical
           Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic, dated 16 September 2013, which concludes
           that “chemical weapons have been used in the ongoing conflict between the parties
           in the Syrian Arab Republic, also against civilians, including children, on a
           relatively large scale”;
           Condemning in the strongest possible terms the use of chemical weapons;
           Welcoming the Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons agreed
           upon by the United States and the Russian Federation on 14 September 2013
           (EC-M-33/NAT.1, dated 17 September 2013);
           Noting also that on 12 September 2013, in its communication to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Syrian Arab Republic notified its intention to
           apply the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production,
           Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (hereinafter
           “the Convention”) provisionally;
           Noting further that on 14 September 2013, the Syrian Arab Republic deposited with
           the Secretary-General of the United Nations its instrument of accession to the
           Convention and declared that it shall comply with its stipulations and observe them
           faithfully and sincerely, applying the Convention provisionally pending its entry
           into force for the Syrian Arab Republic, which was notified to all States Parties by
           the depositary on the same date (C.N.592.2013.TREATIES-XXVI.3), and taking
           into account that the depositary received no communications to the contrary from
           the States Parties with regard to this declaration;
           Noting further that the Convention enters into force for the Syrian Arab Republic on
           14 October 2013;



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               Recognising the extraordinary character of the situation posed by Syrian chemical
               weapons and determined to ensure that the activities necessary for the destruction of
               the Syrian chemical weapons programme start immediately pending the formal entry
               into force of the Convention with respect to the Syrian Arab Republic, and are
               conducted in the most rapid and safe manner;
               Recognising also the invitation of the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to
               receive immediately a technical delegation from the OPCW and to cooperate with
               the OPCW in accordance with the provisional application of the Convention prior to
               its entry into force for the Syrian Arab Republic, and noting the designation by the
               Syrian Arab Republic to the Technical Secretariat (hereinafter “the Secretariat”) of
               its National Authority;
               Emphasising that the provisional application of the Convention gives immediate
               effect to its provisions with respect to the Syrian Arab Republic;
               Noting further that the Syrian Arab Republic submitted on 19 September 2013 the
               detailed information, including names, types, and quantities of its chemical weapons
               agents, types of munitions, and location and form of storage, production, and
               research and development facilities;
               Noting further that pursuant to paragraph 36 of Article VIII of the Convention, the
               Council, following its consideration of doubts or concerns regarding compliance and
               cases of non-compliance, shall, in cases of particular gravity and urgency, bring the
               issue or matter, including relevant information and conclusions, directly to the
               attention of the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Security
               Council;
               Taking into account the Agreement Concerning the Relationship between the United
               Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons of
               17 October 2000;
               Strongly urging all remaining States not Party to the Convention to ratify or accede
               to it as a matter of urgency and without preconditions, in the interests of enhancing
               their own national security as well as contributing to global peace and security; and
               Recalling that, pursuant to paragraph 8 of Article IV and paragraph 10 of Article V
               of the Convention, a State acceding to the Convention after 2007 shall destroy its
               chemical weapons and its chemical weapons production facilities as soon as
               possible, and the Council shall determine the “order of destruction and procedures
               for stringent verification” of such destruction;
               Hereby:
                    1.    Decides that the Syrian Arab Republic shall:
                          (a) not later than 7 days after the adoption of this decision, submit to
                    the Secretariat further information, to supplement that provided on
                    19 September 2013, on the chemical weapons as defined in paragraph 1 of
                    Article II of the Convention that the Syrian Arab Republic owns or possesses,
                    or has under its jurisdiction or control, in particular:
                          (i) the chemical name and military designator of each chemical in its
                          chemical weapons stockpile, including precursors and toxins, and
                          quantities thereof;



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                (ii) the specific type of munitions, sub-munitions and devices in its
                chemical weapons stockpile, including specific quantities of each type
                that are filled and unfilled; and
                (iii) the location of all of its chemical weapons, chemical weapons
                storage facilities, chemical weapons production facilities, including
                mixing and filling facilities, and chemical weapons research and
                development facilities, providing specific geographic coordinates;
                (b) not later than 30 days after the adoption of this decision, submit to
           the Secretariat the declaration required by Article III of the Convention;
                 (c) complete the elimination of all chemical weapons material and
           equipment in the first half of 2014, subject to the detailed requirements,
           including intermediate destruction milestones, to be decided by the Council
           not later than 15 November 2013;
                (d) complete as soon as possible and in any case not later than
           1 November 2013, the destruction of chemical weapons production and
           mixing/filling equipment;
                 (e) cooperate fully with all aspects of the implementation of this
           decision, including by providing the OPCW personnel with the immediate and
           unfettered right to inspect any and all sites in the Syrian Arab Republic;
                  (f) designate an official as the main point of contact for the Secretariat
           and provide him or her with the authority necessary to ensure that this decision
           is fully implemented.
           2.   Decides further that the Secretariat shall:
                (a) make available to all States Parties, within five days of its receipt,
           any information or declaration referred to in this decision, which shall be
           handled in accordance with the Annex to the Convention on the Protection of
           Confidential Information;
                 (b) as soon as possible and in any case not later than 1 October 2013,
           initiate inspections in the Syrian Arab Republic pursuant to this decision;
                 (c) inspect not later than 30 days after the adoption of this decision, all
           facilities contained in the list referred to in paragraph 1 (a) above;
                 (d) inspect as soon as possible any other site identified by a State Party
           as having been involved in the Syrian chemical weapons programme, unless
           deemed unwarranted by the Director-General, or the matter resolved through
           the process of consultations and cooperation;
                 (e) be authorised to hire, on a short-term basis, qualified inspectors and
           other technical experts and to rehire, on a short-term basis, inspectors, other
           technical experts, and such other personnel as may be required whose term of
           service has recently expired, in order to ensure efficient and effective
           implementation of this decision in accordance with paragraph 44 of Article
           VIII of the Convention; and
                 (f) report to the Council on a monthly basis on implementation of this
           decision including progress achieved by the Syrian Arab Republic in meeting
           the requirements of this decision and the Convention, activities carried out by


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                    the Secretariat with respect to the Syrian Arab Republic, and its needs for any
                    supplementary resources, particularly technical and personnel resources.
                    3.   Decides further:
                          (a) to consider, on an urgent basis, the funding mechanisms for
                    activities carried out by the Secretariat with respect to the Syrian Arab
                    Republic, and to call upon all States Parties in a position to do so to provide
                    voluntary contributions for activities carried out in the implementation of this
                    decision;
                          (b) to meet within 24 hours if the Director-General reports delay by the
                    Syrian Arab Republic in meeting the requirements of this decision or the
                    Convention, including, inter alia, the cases referred to in paragraph 7 of Part II
                    of the Annex to the Convention on Implementation and Verification, or a lack
                    of cooperation in the Syrian Arab Republic or another problem that has arisen
                    with regard to the implementation of this decision and at that meeting to
                    consider whether to bring the matter, including relevant information and
                    conclusions, to the attention of the United Nations Security Council in
                    accordance with paragraph 36 of Article VIII of the Convention;
                         (c)   to remain seized of the matter and
                          (d) to recognise that this decision is made due to the extraordinary
                    character of the situation posed by Syrian chemical weapons and does not
                    create any precedent for the future.




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Annex II
           Action Group for Syria Final Communiqué
           30 June 2012

           1.    On 30 June 2012, the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and the
           League of Arab States, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of China, France, the
           Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the
           United States of America, Turkey, Iraq (Chair of the Summit of the League of Arab
           States), Kuwait (Chair of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the League of Arab
           States) and Qatar (Chair of the Arab Follow-up Committee on Syria of the League
           of Arab States) and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign
           Affairs and Security Policy met at the United Nations Office at Geneva as the
           Action Group for Syria, chaired by the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations
           and the League of Arab States to Syria.
           2.    The members of the Action Group came together out of grave alarm at the
           situation in the Syrian Arab Republic. They strongly condemn the continued and
           escalating killing, destruction and human rights abuses. They are deeply concerned
           at the failure to protect civilians, the intensification of the violence, the potential for
           even deeper conflict in the country and the regional dimensions of the problem. The
           unacceptable nature and magnitude of the crisis demands a common position and
           joint international action.
           3.    The members of the Action Group are committed to the sovereignty,
           independence, national unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic.
           They are determined to work urgently and intensively to bring about an end to the
           violence and human rights abuses, and to facilitate the launch of a Syrian-led
           political process leading to a transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the
           Syrian people and enables them independently and democratically to determine their
           own future.
           4.    In order to secure these common objectives, the members of the Action Group
           (a) identified steps and measures by the parties to secure the full implementation of
           the six-point plan and Security Council resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012),
           including an immediate cessation of violence in all its forms; (b) agreed on
           principles and guidelines for a political transition that meets the legitimate
           aspirations of the Syrian people; and (c) agreed on actions that they would take to
           implement the objectives in support of the Joint Special Envoy’s efforts to facilitate
           a Syrian-led political process. They are convinced that this can encourage and
           support progress on the ground and will help to facilitate and support a Syrian-led
           transition.

           Identified steps and measures by the parties to secure the full implementation of
           the six-point plan and Security Council resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012),
           including an immediate cessation of violence in all its forms
           5.    The parties must fully implement the six-point plan and Security Council
           resolutions 2042 (2012) and 2043 (2012). To that end:
                 (a) All parties must recommit to a sustained cessation of armed violence in
           all its forms and to the implementation of the six-point plan immediately and


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               without waiting for the actions of others. The Government and armed opposition
               groups must cooperate with the United Nations Supervision Mission in the Syrian
               Arab Republic (UNSMIS), with a view to furthering the implementation of the plan
               in accordance with the Mission’s mandate;
                    (b) A cessation of armed violence must be sustained, with immediate,
               credible and visible actions by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic to
               implement the other items of the six-point plan, including:
                       (i) Intensification of the pace and scale of release of arbitrarily detained
                       persons, including especially vulnerable categories of persons, and persons
                       involved in peaceful political activities; the provision, without delay and
                       through appropriate channels, of a list of all places in which such persons are
                       being detained; the immediate organization of access to such locations; and the
                       provision, through appropriate channels, of prompt responses to all written
                       requests for information, access or release regarding such persons;
                       (ii) Ensuring freedom of movement throughout the country for journalists
                       and a non-discriminatory visa policy for them;
                       (iii) Respecting freedom of association and the right to demonstrate
                       peacefully, as legally guaranteed;
                    (c) In all circumstances, all parties must show full respect for the safety and
               security of UNSMIS and fully cooperate with and facilitate the Mission in all
               respects;
                     (d) In all circumstances, the Government must allow immediate and full
               humanitarian access by humanitarian organizations to all areas affected by the
               fighting. The Government and all parties must enable the evacuation of the
               wounded, and all civilians who wish to leave must be enabled to do so. All parties
               must fully adhere to their obligations under international law, including in relation
               to the protection of civilians.

               Agreed principles and guidelines for a Syrian-led transition
               6.   The members of the Action Group agreed on the principles and guidelines for
               a Syrian-led transition set out below.
               7.  Any political settlement must deliver to the people of the Syrian Arab
               Republic a transition that:
                    (a) Offers a perspective for the future that can be shared by all in the Syrian
               Arab Republic;
                     (b) Establishes clear steps according to a firm timetable towards the
               realization of that perspective;
                       (c)   Can be implemented in a climate of safety for all and of stability and
               calm;
                       (d)   Is reached rapidly without further bloodshed and violence and is credible.
               8.    Perspective for the future. The aspirations of the people of the Syrian Arab
               Republic have been clearly expressed by the wide range of Syrians consulted. There
               is an overwhelming wish for a State that:



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                (a) Is genuinely democratic and pluralistic, giving space to established and
           newly emerging political actors to compete fairly and equally in elections. This also
           means that the commitment to multiparty democracy must be a lasting one, going
           beyond an initial round of elections;
                 (b) Complies with international standards on human rights, the independence
           of the judiciary, accountability of those in Government and the rule of law. It is not
           enough just to enunciate such a commitment. There must be mechanisms available
           to the people to ensure that these commitments are kept by those in authority;
                 (c) Offers equal opportunities and chances for all. There is no room for
           sectarianism or discrimination on ethnic, religious, linguistic or any other grounds.
           Numerically smaller communities must be assured that their rights will be respected.
           9.    Clear steps in the transition. The conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic will
           end only when all sides are assured that there is a peaceful way towards a common
           future for all in the country. It is therefore essential that any settlement provide for
           clear and irreversible steps in the transition according to a fixed time frame. The key
           steps in any transition include:
                 (a) The establishment of a transitional governing body that can establish a
           neutral environment in which the transition can take place, with the transitional
           governing body exercising full executive powers. It could include members of the
           present Government and the opposition and other groups and shall be formed on the
           basis of mutual consent;
                 (b) It is for the Syrian people to determine the future of the country. All
           groups and segments of society in the Syrian Arab Republic must be enabled to
           participate in a national dialogue process. That process must be not only inclusive
           but also meaningful. In other words, its key outcomes must be implemented;
                 (c) On that basis, there can be a review of the constitutional order and the
           legal system. The result of constitutional drafting would be subject to popular
           approval;
                 (d) Upon establishment of the new constitutional order, it will be necessary
           to prepare for and conduct free and fair multiparty elections for the new institutions
           and offices that have been established;
                (e)   Women must be fully represented in all aspects of the transition.
           10. Safety, stability and calm. Any transition involves change. However, it is
           essential to ensure that the transition can be implemented in a way that ensures the
           safety of all in an atmosphere of stability and calm. This requires:
                 (a) Consolidation of full calm and stability. All parties must cooperate with
           the transitional governing body to ensure the permanent cessation of violence. This
           includes completion of withdrawals and addressing the issue of the disarmament,
           demobilization and reintegration of armed groups;
                (b) Effective steps to ensure that vulnerable groups are protected and that
           immediate action is taken to address humanitarian issues in areas of need. It is also
           necessary to ensure that the release of the detained is completed rapidly;
                 (c) Continuity of governmental institutions and qualified staff. Public
           services must be preserved or restored. This includes the military forces and security



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               services. However, all governmental institutions, including the intelligence services,
               have to perform according to human rights and professional standards and operate
               under a leadership that inspires public confidence, under the control of the
               transitional governing body;
                    (d) Commitment          to   accountability and   national     reconciliation.
               Accountability for acts committed during the present conflict must be addressed.
               There also needs to be a comprehensive package for transitional justice, including
               compensation or rehabilitation for victims of the present conflict, steps towards
               national reconciliation and forgiveness.
               11. Rapid steps to come to a credible political agreement. It is for the people of
               the Syrian Arab Republic to come to a political agreement, but time is running out.
               It is clear that:
                    (a) The sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the
               Syrian Arab Republic must be respected;
                    (b) The conflict must be resolved through peaceful dialogue and negotiation
               alone. Conditions conducive to a political settlement must now be put in place;
                    (c) There must be an end to the bloodshed. All parties must recommit
               themselves credibly to the six-point plan. This must include a cessation of armed
               violence in all its forms and immediate, credible and visible actions to implement
               points 2 to 6 of the six-point plan;
                     (d) All parties must now engage genuinely with the Joint Special Envoy. The
               parties must be prepared to put forward effective interlocutors to work expeditiously
               towards a Syrian-led settlement that meets the legitimate aspirations of the people.
               The process must be fully inclusive in order to ensure that the views of all segments
               of Syrian society are heard in shaping the political settlement for the transition;
                     (e) The organized international community, including the members of the
               Action Group, stands ready to offer significant support for the implementation of an
               agreement reached by the parties. This may include an international assistance
               presence under a United Nations mandate if requested. Significant funds will be
               available to support reconstruction and rehabilitation.

               Agreed actions
               12. Agreed actions that the members of the Group will take to implement the
               above in support of the Joint Special Envoy’s efforts to facilitate a Syrian-led
               political process are as follows:
                     (a) Action Group members will engage as appropriate, and apply joint and
               sustained pressure on, the parties in the Syrian Arab Republic to take the steps and
               measures outlined in paragraph 5 above;
                     (b)   Action Group members are opposed to any further militarization of the
               conflict;
                     (c) Action Group members emphasize to the Government of the Syrian Arab
               Republic the importance of the appointment of an effective empowered interlocutor,
               when requested by the Joint Special Envoy to do so, to work on the basis of the six
               point plan and the present communiqué;



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                 (d) Action Group members urge the opposition to increase cohesion and to
           be in a position to ensure effective representative interlocutors to work on the basis
           of the six-point plan and the present communiqué;
                 (e) Action Group members will give full support to the Joint Special Envoy
           and his team as they immediately engage the Government and the opposition, and
           will consult widely with Syrian society, as well as other international actors, to
           further develop the way forward;
                 (f) Action Group members would welcome the further convening by the
           Joint Special Envoy of a meeting of the Action Group, should he deem it necessary
           to review the concrete progress taken on all points agreed in the present
           communiqué and to determine what further and additional steps and actions are
           needed from the Action Group to address the crisis. The Joint Special Envoy will
           also keep the United Nations and the League of Arab States informed.




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