Brussels, 18/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers expressed “extreme concern” on Monday 18 July about humanitarian conditions in Syria, and warned of possible new sanctions against Damascus for the military crackdown on civilians. At talks in Brussels, the ministers said the EU stands ready to help countries in the region, notably Turkey, to deal with the implications of Syrians fleeing across the border. “The EU notes with extreme concern the deteriorating humanitarian condition of many Syrians”, the ministers said in a statement, after receiving a report back from officials in the region. “Provision of basic goods and services has been interrupted repeatedly. The Syrian authorities must ensure that no further interruptions occur”, they said.
More than 1,300 people have been killed since President Bashar Al-Assad's regime began its crackdown on protestors in March. At least 15,000 are thought to be in the border area with Turkey where they fled to avoid the military. The ministers paid tribute to “the determination and courage of the growing number of Syrian people who continue to voice their legitimate aspirations by peaceful protests”, with some even calling for the regime to go. “The regime has to give way to a new regime. This regime has run its course. It has lost its credibility and legitimacy”, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said. In reference to Assad, his British counterpart William Hague said: “It is really up to the Syrian people but I believe he should reform or step aside”.
The ministers underlined that the EU would continue to target those responsible for the violence with sanctions until the crackdown had ended and that progress was being made on realising the aspirations of the Syrian people for a transition to democracy. “Certainly there will be a time for further sanctions”, said Hague, but the ministers did not add new ones during the meeting. The EU is now targeting 30 people, including Al-Assad and three top members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard with an asset freeze and visa ban. Four companies have also been hit.
In other developments, the ministers also welcomed the formation of a new government in Syria's neighbour Lebanon, but said they were “concerned by the absence of an explicit commitment to cooperate” with the special tribunal set up to investigate the killing of former premier Rafik Hariri. They said that the EU “expects all parties to fully cooperate with the tribunal”, and called on the new government to fulfill all its obligations in relation to the court. (LoC)