Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on the Massacre in Houla, Syria

May 28, 2012
Japanese

A report from the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) tells that large numbers of civilians, including 34 children, were massacred in the Houla Region in the Homs Governorate in northeastern Syria on Friday, May 25 and Saturday, 26 (local time). Japan resolutely condemns such brutal acts of violence. Japan also offers its deepest condolences to the victims and their families.
It is clear that at least part of the responsibility for the events that led to this tragedy lies with the Syrian Government, which has not yet implemented the proposal by Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, Kofi Annan, to immediately stop the deployment of troops in and around residential areas, halt the use of heavy weapons, and start the withdrawal of military forces. Japan once again strongly demands that the Syrian Government fully implement the proposal by Joint Special Envoy Annan and uphold its responsibility to protect civilians. Japan wishes for all violence to be stopped immediately in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2042 and 2043.

(*The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original version in Japanese.)

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