Cairo, 14/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 13 November European ministers and ministers from the Arab League hailed the agreement reached by the Syrian opposition groups, and the formation of the Syrian national Coalition. The agreement represents an important step in the formation of a broad and representative opposition, they said in the conclusions to the EU-Arab League meeting. They called on all the opposition groups to abide by the national Coalition and they called on the Coalition to engage with all the parties of Syrian society.
The ministers also called on the coalition to engage in an in-depth dialogue with Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi with a view to finding a peaceful solution for the transfer of authority.
In addition, they underlined the need for a true political transition in accordance with a timetable agreed by the United Nations Security Council. The transition should respond to the legitimate demands of the Syrian people, they say, also underlining the need to continue the efforts for a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton called for cooperation between the EU and the Arab League to help and support the Syrian people. For his part, French President François Hollande recognised the new national Syrian coalition as the only legitimate representative of the Syrian people and provisional future government. The situation in Syria will be on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 19 November. (CG/transl.fl)