Name: Madeline Beaudry
County: Belarus

Since the Syrian uprising in March 2011, the international community has seen serious and unnecessary crimes against civilians committed to retain the Assad control of the country. The regime has been marked by 5,000 deaths, 14,000 political prisoners, and the use of chemical weapons against civilians. Though Assad's style of rule is detrimental to the wellbeing of Syria's citizens, its governmental system is sound and it is an important trade partner to Belarus with the established Belarusian-Syrian trade commission. Instead of tearing Syria apart further than it already is, Belarus proposes solving the Syrian crisis through peace talks between the government and rebel fighters. Further military and foreign intervention will only cause escalated warfare, dependence on outside forces, an obscene growth of power for the intervening nations, western reshaping of Syria, and feuds between religious factions that will last long after the crisis is solved.

In 2001, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad succeeded his father in office. After the "election," there was a brief uprising for more democracy in Syria that Assad quickly crushed, making over 3,000 arrests. After a decade of media suppression and emigration of Syrians to neighboring countries, a full-fledged revolt against Assad began in March 2011. The Syrian government forces have committed many crimes against humanity, including missile attacks, torturing prisoners, raping women and children, killing protestors, and using toxic sarin nerve gas against civilians. These bloody violations of human rights call for a solution. Syria is also an important exporter of 64.7 billion USD worth of oil, minerals, and agricultural products to other countries. Syria's import and export rates have drastically fallen because of its civil war, affecting the global economy. Some previous actions taken to solve the crisis are economic sanctions and the UN Security Council Resolution 2118, in which Syria agreed to destroy its stockpile of chemical weapons. The Arab League has also taken action by suspending Syria's membership in the league, imposing economic sanctions, making an agreement with the Syrian government to remove national security forces from cities, and installing observers in Syria to report on demonstrations and government actions. These measures have not changed the state of they Syrian regime. The Arab League observers do not have the power to interfere with Syrian politics, and Bashar al-Assad continues to commit crimes against civilians and protestors. Also, even though Assad approved of Resolution 2118 (he claimed the rebels orchestrated the sarin attacks), Syrian National forces have started to block key roads that would be used for weapons removal, a bad sign for future cooperation. Also, Albania, the first country chosen to move the chemical weapons stockpile to for destruction, has refused to be involved. There are also many other problems that have not been addressed, at least not for the long term. The questions of how to create economic stability, house Syrian refugees, protect civilian lives, forge an agreement between Assad and the Syrian Free Army, offer protection to the multiple and adverse religious groups of Syria, and condemn the illegal actions of the Free Syrian Army against the government remain to be answered.

The crises in Syria call for immediate action. The only way to ensure economic and military stability is through reinstating a strong central government that can manage the country's problems. The first step in Belarus' plan of action is to call for negotiations between the Syrian Free Army and the government led by Assad. Since Assad is known to deny allegations of war crimes and violence, the UN should provide a professional negotiator to enforce realistic agreements between the rebels and government. The negotiator could also make sure that the main concerns of the rebels be included in a new Syrian constitution to appease them and make the country more peaceful in the future. This new constitution should also include the right to religious freedom for all citizens of Syria. For two years after the new agreement, UN peacekeeping forces should be stationed in Syria to preserve the new agreements between rebels and government. However, western forces are not necessary as they will attempt to shape Syria in the way they desire. Assad should stay in power as leader. This will solve the problems of protecting lives and ending the conflict. To economically restore Syria, all existing trade embargoes must be lifted. Their economy cannot heal if they have no trading partners. The Arab League, being Syria's main trade partners, should enforce trade relations to rebuild the economy. Belarus is also a significant trade partner of Syria and will participate in new trade agreements. Aid workers should also be supplied by the Arab League to provide relief to the many citizens left homeless and injured from the conflict. Financial assistance, a necessity to provide relief to the millions of Syrian refugees and the homeless, should be provided by international aid organizations. The Free Syrian Army should be tried for crimes against humanity, as should the top commanders of the Syrian government, in the International Criminal Court. Once the military conflict settles down, Syria will be on the road to reconstruction as a stronger nation with a new agreement between the government and the people.

Hello Madeline, Oliver S.H. here.
Firstly, I apologize for the abrupt last minute changes. I honestly have no excuse for it. Anyways, since I have already viewed the changes you submitted on my paper, I thank you. Now, on to the paper. It's very well thought-out, in my opinion. That, and almost all of the grammar and structure looks flawless. There is a small typo up top, though. I think you meant to say country. The only other thing that seems to be missing is the assessment of feasibility of the proposed plans. I mean, they look very feasible, but I think you have to explain how feasible you think the plan is and why.Again, sorry for the lateness.

Since the Syrian uprising in March 2011, the international community has seen serious and unnecessary crimes against civilians committed to retain the Assad control of the country. The regime has been marked by 5,000 deaths, 14,000 political prisoners, and the use of chemical weapons against civilians. Though Assad's style of rule is detrimental to the wellbeing (how about well-being?) of Syria's citizens, its governmental system is sound and it is an important trade partner to Belarus with the established Belarusian-Syrian trade commission. Instead of tearing Syria apart further than it already is, Belarus proposes solving the Syrian crisis through peace talks between the government and rebel fighters. Further military and foreign intervention will only cause escalated warfare, dependence on outside forces, an obscene growth of power for the intervening nations, western reshaping of Syria, and feuds between religious factions that will last long after the crisis is solved.

In 2001, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad succeeded his father in office. After the "election," there was a brief uprising for more democracy in Syria that Assad quickly crushed, making over 3,000 arrests. After a decade of media suppression and emigration of Syrians to neighboring countries, a full-fledged revolt against Assad began in March 2011. The Syrian government forces have committed many crimes against humanity, including missile attacks, torturing prisoners, raping women and children, killing protestors, and using toxic sarin nerve gas against civilians. These bloody violations of human rights call for a solution. Syria is also an important exporter of 64.7 billion USD worth of oil, minerals, and agricultural products to other countries. Syria's import and export rates have drastically fallen because of its civil war, affecting the global economy. Some previous actions taken to solve the crisis are economic sanctions and the UN Security Council Resolution 2118, in which Syria agreed to destroy its stockpile of chemical weapons. The Arab League has also taken action by suspending Syria's membership in the league, imposing economic sanctions, making an agreement with the Syrian government to remove national security forces from cities, and installing observers in Syria to report on demonstrations and government actions. These measures have not changed the state of they Syrian regime. The Arab League observers do not have the power to interfere with Syrian politics, and Bashar al-Assad continues to commit crimes against civilians and protestors. Also, even though Assad approved of Resolution 2118 (he claimed the rebels orchestrated the sarin attacks), Syrian National forces have started to block key roads that would be used for weapons removal, a bad sign for future cooperation. Also, Albania, the first country chosen to move the chemical weapons stockpile to for destruction, has refused to be involved. There are also many other problems that have not been addressed, at least not for the long term. The questions of how to create economic stability, house Syrian refugees, protect civilian lives, forge an agreement between Assad and the Syrian Free Army, offer protection to the multiple and adverse religious groups of Syria, and condemn the illegal actions of the Free Syrian Army against the government remain to be answered.

The crises in Syria call for immediate action. The only way to ensure economic and military stability is through reinstating a strong central government that can manage the country's problems. The first step in Belarus' plan of action is to call for negotiations between the Syrian Free Army and the government led by Assad. Since Assad is known to deny allegations of war crimes and violence, the UN should provide a professional negotiator to enforce realistic agreements between the rebels and government. The negotiator could also make sure that the main concerns of the rebels be included in a new Syrian constitution to appease them and make the country more peaceful in the future. This new constitution should also include the right to religious freedom for all citizens of Syria. For two years after the new agreement, UN peacekeeping forces should be stationed in Syria to preserve the new agreements between rebels and government. However, western (I don't know if 'western' should be capitalized or not) forces are not necessary as they will attempt to shape Syria in the way they desire. Assad should stay in power as leader. This will solve the problems of protecting lives and ending the conflict. To economically restore Syria, all existing trade embargoes must be lifted. Their economy cannot heal if they have no trading partners. The Arab League, being Syria's main trade partners, should enforce trade relations to rebuild the economy. Belarus is also a significant trade partner of Syria and will participate in new trade agreements. Aid workers should also be supplied by the Arab League to provide relief to the many citizens left homeless and injured from the conflict. Financial assistance, a necessity to provide relief to the millions of Syrian refugees and the homeless, should be provided by international aid organizations. The Free Syrian Army should be tried for crimes against humanity, as should the top commanders of the Syrian government, in the International Criminal Court. Once the military conflict settles down, Syria will be on the road to reconstruction as a stronger nation with a new agreement between the government and the people.