Brussels, 18/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 18 February, the foreign ministers decided to renew the restrictive measures, including the embargoes on weapons, against Syria, for three months, starting on 1 March. The Council has amended its measures to reinforce its support and assistance to the civilian population. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said the 27 ambassadors would have to put these notions into legal and technical terms to allow the member states to be at ease with the interpretation of these political terms.
In their conclusions, the ministers say that the EU will continue its efforts to strengthen its support and assistance to the civil population. As part of this, the EU is looking forward to strengthening its coordination with the aid coordination unit set up by the National Coalition. The ministers also add that the Council will actively pursue the work under way to assess and review, if necessary, the sanctions regime against Syria with a view to supporting and aiding the opposition. They underline that the EU will continue its engagement in strengthening its support to the National Coalition, including its technical structures.
Reiterating that the key to the solution lies in a political process, the EU welcomes the initiative of the president of the Syrian National Coalition, Moaz al-Khatib, of a political dialogue and calls on representatives of the Syrian regime not to miss this opportunity and to respond positively to this offer. The EU encourages the Coalition to continue to cooperate with the special envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi, and confirms its will to help the process of dialogue, in all ways possible.
The Council states that the EU will strengthen its supply of humanitarian aid to all the regions of the country, including those which are not currently covered. (CG/transl.fl)