Norway has condemned the Syrian government’s attacks against pro-democracy demonstrators in recent weeks, and is believed to be joining the USA in considering sanctions against the country.
A junior minister in the foreign ministry and representative of the Labour Party, Gry Larsen, told news agency NTB that “Norway condemns in the strongest possible terms the brutal violence and killings of peaceful demonstrators in Syria, and asks that all violence against civilians ceases immediately.” Larson confirmed that the government also “asks Syrian authorities to respect basic human rights, including the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech,” and that “international journalists are allowed access to report from Syria.”
Opposition politicians echoed the government’s statements. The leader of the Christian Democratic Party, Dagfinn Høybråten, told newspaper Aftenposten that “this is an example of authoritarian leaders in Arabic countries showing their brutality when their power is threatened,” and added that “there is a need for a democratic spring in the Middle East and that the Arabic ruling tradition is replaced with human rights and democracy.”
After news that the American government is considering sanctions against the Syrian leadership, Norwegian authorities are also believed to be evaluating similar measures, as well as looking to raise the issue in the UN and other international organizations.
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