Press Statement on Syria

12 May 2016
The members of the Security Council expressed outrage at all recent attacks in Syria directed
against civilians and civilian objects including medical facilities, as well as all indiscriminate
attacks, and stressed that these actions may amount to war crimes. They expressed their deep
concern at violations of the cessation of hostilities endorsed by Security Council Resolution
2268.
The members of the Security Council welcomed in this regard the recent efforts of the cochairs of the International Syria Support Group, and the re-affirmation of their commitment
to the nationwide cessation of hostilities that went into effect on February 27 across Syria, as
well as their commitment to use their influence with the cessation of hostilities parties on the
ground to press them to abide by the cessation of hostilities, refrain from disproportionate
responses to provocations and demonstrate restraint.
The members of the Security Council recalled that all obligations under international
humanitarian law must be respected in all circumstances by all parties. They recalled, in
particular, the obligation to distinguish between civilian populations and combatants, and the
prohibition against indiscriminate attacks and attacks against civilians and civilian objects.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their call on all parties to immediately
implement in full the provisions of Security Council resolutions relating to Syria, including
resolutions 2139 (2013), 2165 (2014) 2191 (2014) and 2258 (2015), as well as Resolution
2286 (2016) relating to healthcare in armed conflict.
The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the primary responsibility of the Syrian
Government to protect the population in Syria and reiterated that parties to the armed conflict
bear the primary responsibility to take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of civilians.
The members of the Security Council condemned increased terrorist attacks resulting in
numerous casualties and destruction carried out by ISIL also known as Daesh, Al-Nusra
Front and other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida, and
called on all parties to commit to putting an end to terrorist acts perpetrated by such
organizations and individuals. They affirmed that Member States must ensure that any
measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law,
in particular international human rights, international refugee and international humanitarian
law.
The members of the Security Council demanded the full and immediate implementation of
resolution 2254 (2015) to facilitate a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition, in
accordance with the Geneva Communiqu as set forth in the ISSG Statements, in order to end
the conflict in Syria, and stressed again that the Syrian people will decide the future of Syria .
In that respect, they expressed their full support for the role and efforts of the Special Envoy
of the Secretary-General, Staffan de Mistura.