Brussels, 21/08/2012 (Agence Europe) - The French government, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council, has decided to take firmer control of the Syrian dossier in order to meet criticism raised by the opposition, including that of the former president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who criticises it for what he calls its “wait and see” attitude. The president of the French Republic, François Hollande, together with the French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, met representatives of the Syrian National Council on Tuesday 21 August, attended by its president Abdel Basset Sayda. The day before, they had held talks with the new special representative of the United Nations and the Arab League on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, who succeeds Kofi Annan. Brahimi stated that France is an “important country” for all that is happening around Syria, and said that his meeting with the president is an “extremely useful beginning” for the task in hand. Hollande, for his part, again underlined the fact that there can be “no political solution unless Bashar al-Assad leaves” his position of power in Damascus. He said it is necessary to “ensure there is political transition in that country as soon as possible”. He also thanked Brahimi for “having agreed to take on the difficult mission of opening up new prospects” and assured him of his support.
On Friday, after the announcement that Kofi Annan's mission would be taken up by Lakhdar Brahimi, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Catherine Ashton, also gave her assurance of the EU's “full support” for Brahimi in “this immensely challenging work”. Welcoming the appointment, she said Brahimi, as an “experienced diplomat with a deep understanding of the region” is “certainly the right person to continue the work of the UN and the League of Arab States in the search for a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis”. She also called on the international community, and especially on the UN Security Council, to provide Brahimi with “strong and unified support”.
Catherine Ashton calls on Lebanon to stop expelling Syrians.
Earlier this month, Ashton expressed concern regarding reports that the Lebanese authorities had expelled Syrian nationals to Syria. “As a party to the UN Convention Against Torture, Lebanon has a clear legal obligation that no person is returned or extradited to a State where they could be subjected to torture”, she explained in a press release on 4 August. “Lebanon must ensure that no deportation takes place outside the framework of its international obligations, and that effective and transparent procedures are in place, in consultation with all appropriate domestic and international organisations", she added. (CG/transl.jl)