Cyprus deplores the continued atrocities taking place in Syria as a result of the three- year-old civil war and unequivocally condemns the brutal attacks carried out by extremist groups, like the recent incidents of violence in the Syrian town of Kessab, forcing hundreds of Armenian families to flee. In this regard, we express our grave concern about the future of the religious minorities in Syria, in particular the Christian community, which has been targeted solely for their religious beliefs. Cyprus urges all sides in Syria to immediately end all violence and to work on the comprehensive implementation of the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012 leading to a genuine political transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and enables them independently and democratically to determine their own future.
The international community must exert its influence on the warring parties in Syria and make every effort to put an end to the drama of the Syrian people.
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