Brussels, 06/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - The spokesman for Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, announced on Tuesday 6 March that ambassadors were to meet that day to discuss the question of the diplomatic presence in Syria. A diplomatic source said the EU has offered the possibility of taking several European diplomats whose national embassies have closed into its delegation in Damascus, but that the logistic and security details are still being examined.
In Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the Syrian regime to authorise the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors for civilians who have fallen victim to the violence. He stressed that “humanitarian aid corridors must immediately be opened”, and urged the international community to put pressure on Damascus in this respect.
Kofi Annan, Special Envoy for the UN and the Arab League for Syria, with whom HR Catherine Ashton spoke by phone, will be in Syria on 10 March with his deputy, Nasser al-Qudwa. Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, is to be in Syria from this Wednesday to Friday, after having received authorisation from the Syrian regime to visit the country. (CG/transl.jl)