Brussels, 31/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU heads of state and government have called on the United Nations to act to bring an “immediate end” to the repression in Syria, as the UN Security Council is holding discussions on a resolution on the situation in the country. “I wish to give voice to my grave concern at the situation in Syria and express my outrage over the continuing violence and repression against the Syrian people”, said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy at a press conference.
“A swift reaction by the UN Security Council is urgently needed. I urge all members of the UN Security Council to assume their responsibilities in relation to the situation in Syria, and adopt steps long overdue in order to bring an end to the repression in Syria”, he added. He also welcomed the decision of the League of Arab States to increase co-operation with the United Nations.
At his press conference, UK Prime Minister David Cameron called on the Security Council to condemn the violence and to support the resolution initiated by the UK. He warned that countries would all have to assume their responsibilities, instead of supporting those “with blood on their hands”.
The Security Council, on which several EU foreign ministers, including William Hague of the UK and Alain Juppé of France, sit, is meeting on in New York on Tuesday to discuss the draft resolution. Russia has already announced that it will not support the text as it stands (see related article). (CG with SP/transl.rt)