Brussels, 18/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - MEPs held a debate on Tuesday 17 April on the situation in Syria. All expressed concerns at various aspects of the conflict.
José Ignacio Salafranca (EPP, Spain) stressed the importance of support for the plan put forward by Kofi Annan, pointing out that “we are sending a double message: on the one hand, al-Assad is winning some time and staying in power and, on the other, that there is no short-term solution. (…) Under the plan, resolution of the conflict must begin with al-Assad and also end with him.” Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, Belgium) said simply: “The Annan plan isn't working. It's dead.” “We don't need to look. We have to take action. And taking action means: security zones, humanitarian corridors and support for the Syrian opposition”, he added.
“The plan is the only possible way out, apart from civil war. It's the only solution, but an improved plan, one that works, is needed”, commented his fellow Belgian Véronique De Keyser (S&D), who expressed concern that the conflict might spread, in particular to Lebanon. She said there was a fear of it being drawn into a war because of its proximity “with Shiite and Sunni interests and interference by Saudi Arabia and Qatar”.
Franziska Katharina Brantner (Greens/EFA, Germany) laid the emphasis on the rights of refugees which “must be guaranteed”. “It is not acceptable that they can be fired upon. We can and must do more for the refugees”, she argued. She also called for the embargo on arms sales by European countries to be observed and for arms exports to be stopped. In this, she was supported by Takis Hadjigeorgiou (GUE/NGL, Cyprus). Bastiian Belder (EFD, Netherlands) argued that the conflict had to be demilitarised if a political solution was to be found “but unfortunately lots of arms are coming in from neighbouring countries”. He called for United Nations troops deployed in the region, many of whom are European, to be allowed to control the borders.
Karim Sajjad (ECR, UK) warned of the repression of “online activists”, targeted by the regime by means of highly advanced techniques to prevent them from broadcasting to the world by internet the atrocities that have taken place. (CG/transl.rt)