Syria Support Movement solidarity with the Syrian people
Mar 20, 2014, Universal Peace Federation
Syrians coming from most diverse social, educational, political and national backgrounds gathered on March 8 and 9, 2014, in the Castle of Schlaining, Austria, in the framework of an “All Sides Consultation for a Political Solution in Syria” organized by the international initiative www.peaceinsyria.org.
Driven by deep worries about the deteriorating developments, the disastrous humanitarian situation and the future of the Syrian people, the All Sides Consultation has been searching for what can be done, by means of a political solution, to stop the war, the violation of human rights causing a huge number of victims, the destruction of infrastructure and culture. This solution should help the Syrians to find a new social contract for the construction of a State based on comprehensive national reconciliation and accountability, guaranteeing the rights and freedom for all Syrians.
Recognizing the immense complexity of the situation and the increasing suffering and polarization, following points emerged as consensual during our deliberations. As conveners we are formulating them in the spirit of the discussions:
1. Based on the principle of the sovereignty of the Syrian people, we call for cease fires by all participants in the war and demand all non-Syrian armed forces to leave the Syrian territories.
2. We appeal to stop the war, emphasizing that a political solution is the best solution for all participants. This solution implies guaranteeing for everybody basic political, economic and social rights leading towards social justice and the release of political prisoners and hostages from all sides.
3. We want to search for realistic and practical methods and procedures in order to realize an “All sides peace conference” which includes all Syrian parts involved in this crisis.
4. We will work on all levels in order to satisfy the urgent and necessary needs of the civilians including safe delivery of human aid.
5. Particularly we will work on bringing back the refugees and emigrants to Syria and to find ways of providing them with the necessary means of living in regions that are safe from war and military activities.
6. To work on finding a space that can be used as a center for the peace process and where a constant and open dialogue can take place. This will be named “The Syrian House of Peace.”
7. We will constitute a Network for Peace in Syria including both Syrians of all walks of live as well as non-Syrians supporting a political solution.
Furthermore, following issues and positions have been discussed without reaching consensus and therefore need to be referred to a next conference:
How to find a just and comprehensive solution for the Kurdish question in order to guarantee equal civil rights while maintaining the unity of the Syrian people and State?
In which way can equal rights between women and men be established guaranteeing full rights for women?
Initiative for a Political Solution, www.peaceinsyria.orgVienna, March 20, 2014
