Clinton warns against sectarian turmoil in Syria

Reuters

PRETORIA | Tue Aug 7, 2012 1:04pm EDT

Syria must not be allowed to descend into a sectarian war, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday, and she warned against “proxies or terrorist fighters” being sent in to join the conflict.

“We have to set very clear expectations about avoiding sectarian warfare,” Clinton said, answering a question on Syria during a news conference in the South African capital Pretoria, her latest stop in a tour of Africa.

“Those who are attempting to exploit the situation by sending in proxies or terrorist fighters must realize that will not be tolerated, first and foremost by the Syrian people,” she added.

She did not elaborate on her reference to “proxies or terrorist fighters” or name any particular country or group.

But the escalating war in Syria has increasingly divided the region along its sectarian faultline, pitting the mainly Sunni rebels, who are backed by regional Sunni-led powers Turkey and the Gulf Arab states, against Assad’s government that is backed by Shi’ite Iran.

“We can begin talking about and planning for what happens next, the day after the regime does fall. I’m not going to put a timeline on it, I can’t possibly predict it, but I know it’s going to happen,” Clinton said.

“We must figure out ways to hasten the day when the bloodshed ends and the political transition begins … We have to make very sure that state institutions stay intact,” she said.

Commenting on Secretary Clinton’s statement, Ribal Al-Assad, Director of the ODFS, said:

“I welcome the comments made by Secretary Clinton, which is exactly what I have been warning about for over one year, that is we need to avoid a sectarian conflict in Syria and the region as it will have disastrous consequences. Therefore I call upon secretary Clinton and the United States Government to take practical steps to help prevent such a situation from arising.

“Firstly the US must impress upon states in the Middle East who are arming the opposition and sending jihadist proxies to fight to stop as their actions have escalated the conflict in Syria and divided the region along its sectarian faultline.

“Secondly any state or non state actors that advocate or support the killing of religious minorities must be held to account. That includes extremist clerics who advocate the murder of Muslim minorities who are given a platform by Arab TV stations such as Safa and Wisal.

“It also includes the outrageous and provocative statement made by Sheik Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, that “all churches across the region should be destroyed”, which gives a signal to radical Islamists that it is okay to persecute Christians across the Middle East and to use violence against them. This is highly irresponsible and unacceptable behaviour from someone in such a prominent position in the Muslim world.

“It also includes people such Saudi Arabia’s Sheikh Saleh Al Luhaidan, former Chief Justice of Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Judicial Council (now a member of the Council) who has delivered sermons in which he calls for jihad against Muslim minority sects and ‘infidels’

“Thirdly to ensure that state institutions stay intact and that a political solution is found it is imperative that the regime, the opposition and their outside backers act in good faith and support diplomacy. Therefore the US must impress upon the opposition and their outside backers to act accordingly.

“Also for a peaceful resolution to be achieved the Syrian opposition must come onto one platform to unite and speak with one voice. The US must play its part in facilitating this. This is the only way to start a political process leading to a peaceful inclusive democratic transition to a national unity government and to democracy and freedom.

“The alternative is an all out civil war, which will further fragment Syrian society and could lead to its disintegration. Also a regional conflict along sectarian lines with a greater loss of life and destruction is a real possibility.

“I call upon all parties to step back from the brink of all out war and to de-escalate the violence and pursue a peaceful political solution as that is the only sensible way out of this crisis.”