"We condemn in the strongest terms the ongoing violations of international humanitarian law and strongly urge all the parties to the conflict, and in particular the Syrian authorities, to guarantee the protection of civilians," – said Ambassador Murmokaitė.
Welcoming progress in the removal of chemical weapons from Syria, the Ambassador noted that further delays must be avoided and indicated that progress in this field must be accompanied by tangible and sustained progress on the humanitarian track.
The Ambassador urged all parties to fully engage in Geneva peace conference. "We strongly urge all parties to fully commit to the dialogue and prove that commitment by their actions. The only solution to the conflict is a genuine political transition in Syria, based on the full implementation of the Geneva Communiqué." – said Ambassador Murmokaitė.
With regard to the Middle East peace process, Lithuanian Ambassador expressed strong support for the US-backed direct peace negotiations. "This is a unique opportunity for a breakthrough in the peace process, which could lead to a viable and peaceful two-state solution," – said the Ambassador.
The Lithuanian Ambassador welcomed the opening of the Hariri assassination trial at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as a step forward towards ending the impunity. In the statement Ambassador Murmokaitė also expressed concerns about terrorist attacks that continuously threaten Lebanon and Iraq.
On the eve of Geneva II Peace talks, seeking solutions to the conflict in Syria was a key issue at the Security Council's debate today. The United Nations Security Council holds a regular Open Debate on Middle East on a quarterly basis. The debate was chaired by Nasser Judeh, Foreign Minister of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and attended by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who briefed participants on the latest developments in the region.