Brussels, 26/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Recalling that a year ago the heads of state and government were already deploring the situation in Syria, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy has called for a resolution on the chemical weapons in Syria, and for the Geneva II peace conference to be held swiftly.
Highlighting the “political opening” represented by the control and destruction of chemical weapons, Van Rompuy said in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, on Wednesday 25 September, that it is urgent for the Security Council to take the necessary decisions to ensure the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria. “A clear resolution by the Security Council would mark a turn, and I plea for its adoption”, he said.
However, the need for a political solution should not be forgotten. “Eliminating Syria's chemical arsenal is in itself a major step”, Van Rompuy stated. “If commitments can be upheld and promises kept on chemical weapons, if lines of communication can reopen, if we can find an agreement within the international community and at the Security Council … if we can do all this on chemical weapons, then chances are we can do it elsewhere”, he added.
“Now is indeed the moment to work actively towards Geneva II”, Van Rompuy underlined, stating that the international community must engage fully, with all the diplomatic means available. In his opinion, the peace conference will “not be easy” and “political will and a real sense of compromise” will be required to end the war. The EU is ready to bring the necessary support to reach a political settlement and to play its role to help the reconstruction of the country, he said. (CG/transl.fl)