Equipo Nizkor - Letter from Syria on two terrorist attacks committed in Homs.

United Nations
Security Council

S/2016/80

Distr.: General
28 January 2016
English
Original: Arabic

Identical letters dated 26 January 2016 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council

On instructions from my Government, I wish to inform you of two bloody terrorist bombings that took place on the morning of Tuesday, 26 January 2016 in the residential neighbourhood of Zahra', in the city of Homs.

On Tuesday morning, as the third Geneva conference to make progress towards a political solution among Syrians to the crisis in Syria approached, armed terrorist groups detonated a car bomb on Sittin street in the Zahra' neighbourhood, in Homs governorate. The attack was followed by a suicide bombing using an explosive belt. Some 24 people died and over one hundred civilians were injured, some of them seriously. Homes and infrastructure at the site were extensively damaged. Syria has informed the Security Council and the Secretary-General of numerous bombings perpetrated by the terrorist groups against that neighbourhood and its residents. Unfortunately, however, the Security Council and the Secretariat of the United Nations have shown no interest in the explosions, which have killed and wounded hundreds of children, women and old persons.

These two bloody explosions are part of a series of systematic, savage acts of terrorism carried out by armed terrorist groups in Syria. The groups are supported by well-known States in the region and beyond, which have been using the terrorists in order to serve their own petty, irresponsible political agendas. They seek to thwart efforts to find a political solution among Syrians to the crisis in Syria, which has lasted for almost five years, and to respond to the success of the national reconciliation processes in Syria. The attacks also seek to raise the profile of the armed terrorist groups, which have suffered a string of defeats. The Syrian Arab Army has achieved momentous victories on all fronts in its endeavour to combat terrorism and restore safety and security throughout Syria.

The bloody crimes and massacres committed by armed terrorist groups, including Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Nusrah Front, the Army of Islam, the Islamic Front, the Army of Conquest, Ahrar al-Sham and the Free Army could not have taken place without the weapons, materiel, funds and logistical support that continue to be provided by the Governments of States involved in shedding the blood of the Syrian people.

The Government of the Syrian Arab Republic stresses that the Security Council should denounce these terrorist crimes immediately and forcefully. It should take deterrent action against State sponsors of terrorism, which has had a destructive impact on peace and security not only in Syria but in the world as a whole. The Security Council should enforce resolutions 2170 (2014), 2178 (2014), 2199 (2015) and 2253 (2015). The bases for such action should include, in particular, respect for the principles of international law and the need to cooperate and coordinate fully with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic in any efforts to combat terrorism; save lives; uphold the principles and values of justice, freedom and dignity; and combat the terrorists' culture of extremism, fanaticism and rejection.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter issued as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Mounzer Mounzer
Chargé d'affaires a.i.

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28Jan16

Letter from Syria on two terrorist attacks committed in Homs