Brussels, 14/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 14 December, the heads of state and/or government tasked their foreign ministers “to work on all options to support and help the opposition and to enable greater support for the protection of civilians” in Syria. British Prime Minister David Cameron said that, in response to those who want to know what they are doing, “all options should be considered in order to help the opposition”. According to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, “nothing has been said about lifting the arms embargo” (our translation). Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo took the view that the arms embargo is still and will be on until 1 March, and will be reviewed at that point.
The European Council also spoke of the need for political transition looking ahead to a future without President Assad and his “illegitimate regime”. French President François Hollande felt the international community should set itself the goal of ousting Bashar al-Assad as soon as possible. He also said, on another occasion, that Russia has nothing to lose or to fear from change. David Cameron considered that one of the priorities should be to keep the Russians moving.
In their conclusions, the heads of state and/or government underline that they support a “future that is democratic and inclusive with full support for human rights and the rights of minorities”. Hollande said that the coalition which, he hoped, would take over the power tomorrow, would set guarantees on democratisation.
Appalled at the increasingly deteriorating situation in Syria, the heads of state and/or government also said that the European Council will continue to address the situation in Syria as a matter of priority. Di Rupo believed the March European Council should be able to ascertain its position on Syria.
Greece's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, for his part, pointed out that Greece is seeing a large number of refugees reach its borders with Turkey, and called on the EU to take all appropriate diplomatic measures to ensure that refugees may be transferred to places where they are at peace.
Finally, the heads of state and/or government welcomed the results of the Friends of Syria meeting on 12 December (see EUROPE 10751) which, among other things, recognised the coalition as the “legitimate representative” of the Syrian people, and took on board the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council of 10 December (see EUROPE 10749). (CG/AN/EH/EL/MD/SP/transl.jl)