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PACE: Council of Europe countries should help build democratic society in Syria

The parliamentarians supported the convocation of the Geneva-2 conference on Syria and expressed hope that such meeting could take place till the end of 2013

STRASBOURG, October 3 (Itar-Tass) - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) urged member-states of the Council of Europe to help build a democratic society in Syria instead of contributing to overthrowing the regime.

The CE Committee of Ministers approved recommendations to this effect after the debates on the Syrian conflict on Thursday.

The parliamentarians asked the CE member-states to back the formation of a democratic, fair and stable state in Syria that will observe human rights and the rights of ethnic, cultural and religious minorities.

The parliamentarians demanded the European states be involved in international efforts to unite the Syrian opposition, which favoured democracy and tolerance.

They confirmed that violence could be stopped in Syria only by political means. The parliamentarians supported the convocation of the Geneva-2 conference on Syria and expressed hope that such meeting could take place till the end of 2013.

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