Brussels, 03/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 30 October, the 17 national delegations, the EU and the United Nations met in Vienna (see EUROPE 11422) to discuss the Syrian crisis. They asked the UN to call a meeting between the representatives of the Syrian regime and members of the opposition.
In line with the 2012 Geneva communiqué and UN Security Council Resolution 2118, the UN should “convene representatives of the Government of Syria and the Syrian opposition for a political process leading to credible, inclusive, non-sectarian governance, followed by a new constitution and elections”. “These elections must be administered under UN supervision to the satisfaction of the governance and to the highest international standards of transparency and accountability, free and fair, with all Syrians, including the diaspora, eligible to participate”, the participants added in their joint statement.
The participants “together with the United Nations will explore modalities for, and implementation of, a nationwide ceasefire to be initiated on a date certain and in parallel with this renewed political process”. The participants also stated that it was imperative to accelerate all the diplomatic efforts to put an end to the war, and that the groups designated as terrorist groups - including ISIL - “must be defeated”.
In their statement, the participants reiterated that “Syria's unity, independence, territorial integrity, and secular character are fundamental”, that the state institutions should remain in tact, and that “the rights of all Syrians, regardless of their ethnicity or religious denomination, must be protected”. The participants stated that humanitarian access would be ensured throughout the territory of Syria and that they would increase their support for people who have been displaced, refugees and their host countries.
Discussions will continue at ministerial level in two weeks' time. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)