Federal Foreign Minister Steinmeier has called on the parties to the conflict in Syria to enable the UN observers in Aleppo to work unhindered. The observer mission is to support evacuations and report on the humanitarian situation.
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The Syrian regime, Iran and Russia agreed to the UN observer mission reported Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. They are now responsible for ensuring that the UN and other aid organisations are given full access to eastern Aleppo and to those evacuated.
On Monday (19 December) the United Nations Security Council resolved to send observers to Aleppo. They are to report on the situation of the people and monitor evacuations from the eastern part of the city. The resolution was based on a Franco-German initiative.
"It is good and it is important that the United Nations Security Council has agreed that the evacuation of women, men and children from Aleppo is to be monitored by United Nations observers. Now the urgently needed additional UN staff must be enabled to enter Syria and there must be a guarantee that these observers can work unhindered," said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier also welcomed the fact that the UN intends to better document war crimes in Syria in future. "War crimes in Syria must not go unpunished. That is also an important signal for victims of the conflict in Syria," declared the Federal Foreign Minister.
On Wednesday (21 December), the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish an independent body that is to document war crimes in Syria. The body is to work closely with the commission on inquiry that was established by the Human Rights Council in 2011. Germany is one of the initiators of this resolution.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has declared that Russia and Iran are responsible for targeted attacks on civilians and hospitals, alongside the Syrian regime. On Thursday 15 December at the European Council meeting she urged that these crimes be investigated and that UN representatives be given access to Aleppo.
At the summit meeting in Brussels, Brita Hagi Hasanden, the Mayor of eastern Aleppo, reported on the tragedy that is unfolding in his city. In dramatic terms he outlined the situation of the people in Aleppo, reported Angela Merkel. It was a very emotional and moving part of the discussion. "But we were all forced to realise that we can do a lot less than we would like to do."
As well as ending targeted attacks, the priority must be to see how, in spite of everything, a political process can be launched "in order to restore order in Syria".