On Tuesday 8 September, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, visited the international conference in Paris dedicated to the victims of ethnic and religious violence in the Middle East, at the joint invitation of the Foreign Ministers of France, Laurent Fabius and of Jordan, Nasser Judah.
Minister Asselborn joined over 60 countries and several UN agencies who were in attendance at the conference, along with the President of the French Republic, François Hollande and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Jan Eliasson.
The conference followed the Security Council meeting of 27 March 2015 concerning the victims of attacks against ethnic or religious minorities in the Middle East and aimed to develop a concrete action plan of measures to address urgent humanitarian challenges to support the return and resettlement of displaced people. The action plan also acts as a means of preserving diversity through the promotion of inclusive political solutions and the protection of cultural heritage, as well as the fight against impunity.
Minister Asselborn lamented the current control held by Islamic State over the Middle East, saying of the situation: "In its destructive madness, Daech attacks men, women and children of all minorities, be they Christian, Yazidi, Kurdish or Turkmen [...] it it an attempt of systematic destruction of the diversity in the social fabric in the regions of Syria and Iraq".
The Luxembourg Minister condemned these atrocities, stating "we support the action plan to protect minorities in the Middle East [...] as long as the war continues, Daech and other extremist groups will not disappear. In the absence of a political solution, we must show particular solidarity with Syria's neighbours, namely Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, which bear a heavy burden, particularly with regards to the reception of refugees".
Minister Asselborn concluded his statement by saying "it is in redressing the wrongs committed against innocents that the victims can be rehabilitated in dignity. That is why Luxembourg continues to advocate that the Security Council refer the situation that has prevailed in Syria since March 2011 to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
"And that is why we encourage Iraq to access the Rome Statute of the ICC or at least to make a declaration to recognise the jurisdiction of the ICC. Those who today threaten the existence of the minorities which make up the mosaic of the Middle East need to know that justice will eventually catch up to them".
Jean Asselborn also used the opportunity to meet with French President François Hollande and French Minister of the Interior, Bernard Cazeneuve at the Palais de l'Élysée for a tête à tête concerning migration and the refugee crisis.
Minister Asselborn is in Belgrade today to meet with his Serbian counterpart and to visit a refugee reception centre.
Photo by Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (L-R: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, Nasser Judeh ; Jean Asselborn)
