Brussels, 05/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 5 September, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton called on the members of the United Nations Security Council and all parties “to provide Lakhdar Bahrimi (the UN-League of Arab states Special Representative for Syria) with the support he requires”, saying that “close coordination and united diplomatic action by the international community are pre-requisites for his success”.
Ashton said that she had talked with Bahrimi on the telephone on Tuesday 4 September about “the extremely difficult situation in Syria and the immediate priority to reduce the violence”. Ashton also said that Bahrimi had the “total” support of the EU in his “difficult” mission. She gave her assurances that he and his team can count on her personal commitment and the help of the EU in their task of finding a peaceful political solution to the crisis. Ashton added that the EU will continue to work closely with the UN and Arab League.
The EU head of diplomacy said that the humanitarian situation remains an absolute priority for the EU. More than 200,000 Syrian have fled their country since the beginning of August. (CG/transl.fl)