Tehran Conference Statement on Syria

On August 9, Iran hosted an emergency conference on developments in Syria. Envoys from 26 countries attended the one-day meeting including Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Benin, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.

The final communiqué expressed the following points.
 
·Serious concern over the continuation of clashes and violation of human rights in Syria and the vast losses and damages which have caused grief and numerous problems for the people of Syria, and sympathy with the families of the victims of armed clashes and terrorist acts.
 
·The necessity of pursuing political solutions based on national dialogue as the only way to resolve the Syrian crisis with the main objective of bringing the violence to a total end and encouraging the two sides to prepare the ground for the national dialogue. 
 
·Support to the legitimate demands of the Syrian people to carry out reforms in order to build democracy and promote all-out political partnership of different parties and opposition groups to exercise their right to run their own country, in a peaceful manner and calm atmosphere and without any foreign intervention. 
 
·Welcome and support to all good offices made already in line with the principles of good intentions and impartiality to settle the Syrian crisis and appreciating the efforts made by the Secretary General of the UN and his special envoy Mr. Kofi Annan for his 6-point plan as well as putting emphasis on continuation of the activities of the international observers to consolidate sustainable peace and tranquility in Syria.
 
·The need to uphold the principles of international law regarding non-intervention in domestic affairs of other countries and the respect of their national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and urging to cease the hostilities by putting an end to any military assistance to armed groups and warning of the dangerous impacts of support for armed groups on regional peace and security. 
 
·The necessity to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Syria in order to mitigate the plight of Syrian people in cooperation with the government of Syria.
 
·The necessity to examine establishing of a contact group from among the participating countries aiming to end the violence and start the inclusive dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition.
 
·Serious concern over the entry of known terrorist groups and sects into the Syrian conflict and seriously warning of the spread of terrorism and its dire consequences on the peace and security of the region.
 
·The proposal of the Islamic Republic of Iran for calling upon the conflicting parties to end clashes and violence for three months on the occasion of the arrival of Eid al Fitr which is one of the most important festivity for all Muslims of the world to stop hostilities in Syria in order to follow up negotiations and adopt peaceful mechanisms.