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London 11 Final Communiqué, in London, October 22, 2013 1. The Friends of Syria Core Group of countries – the ‘London 11’ – unanimously welcome the agreement by the UN Security Council on 27 September on the urgent need for political transition and its endorsement of the Geneva communiqué, the objective of which is the formation by mutual consent of a Transitional Governing Body (TGB) with full executive powers, including over security, military and intelligence structures. 2. We agree that when the TGB is established, Assad and his close associates with blood on their hands will have no role in Syria. There must be accountability for acts committed during the present conflict. 3. We strongly condemn the regime’s escalating indiscriminate attacks, including use of sarin, SCUD missiles, air and artillery strikes and brutality on the ground. The regime bears the responsibility for the bloody conflict and continues to block urgent humanitarian access on the ground. The regime’s actions on the ground are undermining the potential for genuine political transition. The regime must commit itself to the full implementation of the Geneva Communiqué, and demonstrate that commitment through its actions at Geneva II. 4. We welcome progress made on Geneva II preparations and pledge our full backing for the Joint Special Representative. We underline the need for intensive preparations for Geneva II, which, subject to further progress, could take place in November. The process should move forward as set out in paragraphs 10 onwards. 5. We urge the National Coalition to commit to the Geneva II process, with all parties accepting the June 2012 Geneva Communiqué. The London 11 recognise the considerable challenges faced by the opposition. We will step up our joint efforts to channel support to the National Coalition and the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army. We will continue to provide enhanced support to build the capacity of the opposition to deliver basic needs on the ground. 6. We are gravely concerned at the appalling humanitarian situation, including the siege by regime forces of Moadamiyeh, Homs, Aleppo and Hassakeh, where thousands of innocent Syrian civilians, including women and children, are trapped and living in desperate conditions. In addition to the terrible human cost, this fuels support for extremist groups. We call for urgent action to increase humanitarian support, and the granting of full and unfettered access, including for cross-line and cross-border efforts into and within Syria. In particular, we call on the Syrian regime to give full cooperation to the UN agencies and international NGOs, in granting them the licences, visas and travel permissions to allow them to meet the spiralling needs of the Syrian population across the country. 7. We recognise that the horror of the conflict is driving civilians to seek refuge in neighbouring countries in ever greater numbers, creating a growing regional crisis. We agree to continue to support those neighbouring countries generously hosting Syrian refugees and call on the international community to increase its support for those countries. 8. We share growing concern at the spread of extremism and extremist groups, including ISIL and Jabhat al-Nusra. We call for Iran, Hizballah and all other foreign fighters and forces to withdraw from Syria. These pose a threat to moderate forces, the territorial integrity of Syria and to regional and international security. 9. We also welcome the UN Security Council’s agreement to ensure the elimination of the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons. All the evidence on the 21 August attack points clearly to regim