We hold on to the principle that the violence in Syria must stop immediately. Not tomorrow but now"Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has again called for a halt to the violence in Syria, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said here Friday.
"We hold on to the principle that the violence in Syria must stop immediately. Not tomorrow but now," Marty said at a meeting with the press.
He called on the two sides in the Syrian conflict - the government and the opposition - to start a dialogue and give preference to diplomatic efforts.
"We already asked the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to play a greater role in efforts to resolve the problem in Syria through talks at diplomatic forums," Marty said.
He said he, on behalf of the Indonesian government, had recently written to Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov as the head of the OIC`s human rights commission to convene a special OIC meeting on the Syrian problem. "The question is that in Indonesia`s view, the situation in Syria is not showing signs of improvement but the opposite," he said.
Indonesia was also hoping that the Arab League would play an increasing role in efforts to resolve the Syrian conflict, Marty said.
Meanwhile, visiting Sudan Foreign Minister n Ahmed Ali Karti also called for a halt to the violence in Syria.
"Sudan wishes to see the easing of tensions in Syria and the government and opposition sit together to discuss Syria`s fate and future," Ali Karti said.
He said the Syrian government and opposition should cease their hostilities so that the death toll would not continue to rise.
Ali Karti called on the Arab League to continue its efforts to end he violence in Syria although its resolution in the UN Security Council was vetoed by Russia and China.
According to UN data, more than 6,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict between the government and the opposition erupted in March 2011.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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