Sec. 4. Statement of policy

498 words·~2 min read·/bill/113/s/856/is/section-4

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It is the policy of the United States— to support transition from the current regime in Syria to a just and democratic state that is inclusive and protects the rights of all Syrians regardless of religion, ethnicity, or gender; to assist the people of Syria, especially internally displaced persons and refugees, in meeting basic needs including access to food, health care, shelter, and clean drinking water; to provide political and economic support to those neighboring countries who are hosting refugees fleeing Syria and to international organizations that are providing assistance and coordinating humanitarian relief efforts; to oppose the unlawful use of violence against civilians by all parties to the conflict in Syria; to use a broad array of pressure instruments to expedite a negotiated solution to the conflict in Syria, including the removal from power of the government of Bashar al-Assad; to recognize the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (in this Act referred to as the Syrian Opposition Coalition or SOC ) as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people; to engage with the SOC and a diverse and inclusive array of opposition groups that are representative of the Syrian people, as well as the broader international community, to facilitate and plan for an orderly transition to a more stable democratic political order, the elements of which should include— protections for human rights, political participation, and religious freedom for all Syrians, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or gender; support for the rule of law; rejection of extremism; the subordination of the military to civilian authority; protections against sectarian violence and reprisal; cooperation with international counterterrorism and nonproliferation efforts; support for regional stability and non-interference in the affairs of neighboring countries; and promotion of justice and accountability for conflict-related crimes; to promote the territorial integrity of Syria and the unity and continuity of the Syrian state by— supporting a post-Assad government that is capable of providing security, services, and fundamental rights for its people; and opposing a role in a post-Assad government of those whose presence would undermine its credibility or jeopardize stability and reconciliation; to provide foreign assistance, defense articles, defense services, and training to members of the Syrian Supreme Military Council, units of the Free Syrian Army, and other Syrian entities opposed to the government of Bashar al-Assad that have been properly vetted and share common values and interests with the United States; to closely coordinate with key partners, including Turkey, Jordan, Israel, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the European Union, to ensure that the international community is prepared for a military or diplomatic response, including the creation of no-fly zones or safe havens, the protection of civilians, and the securing of chemical or biological weapons, to mitigate or prevent humanitarian, security, and proliferation emergencies; and to support efforts to catalogue and identify those individuals who commit or lead units or organizations which commit abuses of human rights or other violations of international law, and to ensure that they are held accountable for their actions.