11/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - EU saddened by death of Dutch priest. It was with great sadness that the High Representative of the EU, Catherine Ashton, learned of the death of the Dutch priest Father Frans Van der Lugt, who was assassinated inside the besieged area of Homs, Syria, on 7 April. “Father Frans chose to stay in the besieged part of the city to tend to the needs of Syrians trapped there. He was known by his complete commitment to assisting all those who turn to him for help”, said Ashton. The 75-year-old Jesuit had lived in Homs for several years. Ashton expressed concern at the “dire situation” still facing the people of Syria, with an increasing number of casualties and people in need of humanitarian aid. She stressed that there was no other way to put an end to this tragedy than engaging in a political settlement of the conflict through negotiations. (CG)