The Syrian regime has not stopped killing innocent women, children and men who are fighting for the right of self-determination. The genocide has been blatant in Dera, Homs and Idlib, where the uprising is strong. The ambivalence of the world community and Russian support for the Syrian regime have encouraged Bashar Al-Assad to commit his crimes with impunity. Media reported on Wednesday the criticism by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Al-Assad for his delay in carrying out political reforms in Syria. No one was happy about Lavrov's calls for reform as it is clear that they are mere words which appear more like public relations statements than genuine sympathy for the Syrian people The Syrian people themselves have not welcomed Lavrov's statements. They instead have denounced Russia for issuing meaningless rhetoric. What the Syrian people want is action from the world community — and that includes Russia and China — to help them survive the atrocities being committed daily by the brutal regime. They do not need empty statements while they are being killed day after day. The Syrian regime has been killing its own people under the pretext of protecting the country's security. But everybody knows that it is nothing but a ploy to keep Al-Assad in power. French President Nicolas Sarkozy was right in stating that Al-Assad must be brought to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. However, Al-Assad cannot be tried in any court until he is toppled. And he cannot be toppled until the international community backs its words of sympathy with concrete actions to force him to step down. The world appears to be asleep. When will it wake up and decide to put an end to the Syrian regime's atrocities? And when will Russia stop maneuvering in its bid to prop up Al-Assad's sagging regime and preserve its vested interests in Syria and the region? When will China align itself with reason, fairness and justice? __
