Strasbourg, 07/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Geneva II negotiations must to be continued in order to find a political and democratic solution to the Syrian conflict and to prepare the transition towards freedom and democracy, MEPs affirmed in a resolution adopted on Thursday 7 February.
The European Parliament underlines the fundamental importance of confidence-building measures. It calls on the delegations participating in the negotiations to reach agreement on local ceasefires and to apply them, to reach agreement on the lifting of the siege in some urban areas - including Homs - and to reach agreement on the release or exchange of prisoners, and the improvement of humanitarian aid access to civilians in need, “as stepping stones to substantive negotiations on the basis of the Geneva communiqué”. The Parliament continues to encourage the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces “to create a more united, inclusive and organised opposition front both internally and externally”.
The Parliament is concerned at the “increasing involvement” of extremist Islamist groups and foreign fighters in Syria, and the rise of religiously and ethnically motivated violence in the country.
The Syrian authorities must respect the timetable planned for the destruction of their chemical weapons arsenal, MEPs state. Before the vote, European Parliament President Martin Schulz paid tribute to all the journalists “who guarantee the right to information, sometimes at the cost of their life”.
The foreign affairs ministers will discuss the situation in Syria on Monday 10 February. (CG/transl.fl)