Brussels, 29/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Council on Friday 29 June welcomed the adoption by the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 25 June of further sanctions against Syria and agreed to keep further measures under consideration. “The European Council strongly condemns the brutal violence in Syria, calling for strong actions on two points. First, to press the regime to end the bloodshed, and second, to support a political solution to the crisis”, said Council President Herman Van Rompuy.
Repeating their “full support” for the Annan plan welcoming his efforts to work with “key international partners” to move the political process forward, the member states also called for “united” action by the UN Security Council to add “more robust and effective” pressure, “including the adoption of comprehensive sanctions under Chapter VII”.
The Council also called for complete cessation of violence “by all parties” in Syria. Strongly condemning the “brutal violence and massacres of civilians”, it urged the Syrian regime “immediately” to stop its attacks against the civilian population, and called for an international, transparent, independent and prompt investigation into violations of international law and human rights with a view to ensuring accountability for those responsible. The member states reiterated that the main responsibility for achieving the ceasefire, implementing the Kofi Annan six-point plan, allowing “full and unhindered” humanitarian access and ensuring the safety of the United Nations observers in Syria lies with the regime.
The Council also encouraged the Syrian opposition groups to agree on a set of shared principles for “working towards an inclusive, orderly and peaceful transition in Syria to a future free of Assad and his brutal regime”. (CG/transl.rt)