Brussels, 08/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - Several ideas are making the rounds to take action over the situation in Syria, a senior European diplomat stressed on Wednesday 8 February. He explained that the western countries and the Arab League may try to present a new resolution to the UN after the General Assembly, and discussions are continuing on appointing a special envoy with a double UN-Arab League function. The Arab League recommends the observation mission and will meet before the end of the week to decide whether it will stop or increase this mission, the European diplomat stated.
Another idea is the creation of a group based on the model of the Cairo group which was created during the Libyan crisis, with the Arab League, United Nations and EU high representative. A contact group could also be set in place. “Certain member states are trying to seek a solution, setting up a contact group which could be called 'the group of friends of Syria', but it is still at the ideas stage, nothing has been decided on”, the diplomat added.
He stressed that the military option had been ruled out: “the idea of a no-fly zone was not mentioned at any time”, he said.
For its part, Turkey called for an international conference to be held “as soon as possible”. “We are determined to set in place an extended-based forum for an international agreement with the countries which are concerned” about the situation, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced. Turkey is carrying out active diplomacy to implement “a new roadmap”, he added.
The EU is getting ready. The Europeans should step up their sanctions. As well as precious metals and transactions of the Central Bank (see EUROPE 10548), the EU, which buys 40% of Syrian exports of phosphate, could ban imports of this. The EU also wishes to send additional experts to the country and will reinforce its delegations to Lebanon and Jordan. It is preparing to repatriate Europeans, if necessary, but also third-country nationals.
Al-Assad pledges peace. On Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announced, after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, that he pledged to halt the violence. “The Syrian president has assured us that he was entirely committed to halting the violence, whatever its origin”, Lavrov explained. “Syria has stressed that it is in its interests for the Arab League to continue its mission and increase the number of observers.” Scarcely a convincing commitment. “This is manipulation and we are not falling for it”, said the head of French diplomacy, Alain Juppé, pointing out that this is not the first commitment the president has made. “I have absolutely no faith in the commitments of a discredited Syrian regime (…). When you massacre 6,000 of your fellow peoples, you no longer have any legitimacy”, he added, with violence continuing in the country. (CG/transl.fl)