“In the last few months there have been more than 6000 deaths, for which the Assad regime bears responsibility. On Saturday alone, hundreds of people lost their lives in attacks launched by the Syrian Government. The spiral of violence is spinning ever faster. The veto in the United Nations Security Council is a wrong decision and one directed against the people in Syria. Russia and China are thus assuming a heavy responsibility.
It is of the utmost importance that we continue our work with all our partners in the UN Security Council and with the Arab League. We owe this to the people in Syria and to the international community’s reputation. Those who give up abandon the people in Syria, and we will certainly not do so
The German Government firmly believes that there is no future for President Assad following these atrocities and that he must clear the way for peaceful change in his country.”