Brussels, 22/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 21 February, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini warned against an open war in Syria.
“It is important to seek solutions, otherwise things will become worse still, with Syria becoming a paradise for Daesh, Bashar al-Assad maintaining power, and this war not being 'cold' as some people say, but being open and involving all regional powers”, she said in an interview in French weekly newspaper Journal du dimanche. Mogherini stated that there were two wars in Syria: “one between the regime and the opposition with the involvement of the regional actors, and the other against Daesh”. “Disagreeing with the Russians on the first does not rule out cooperating with them on the second”, she added. In order to reach the end of the war, launch a political transition and concentrate all forces on Daesh, “the local, regional and international forces need to agree on the fact that this is a priority. Otherwise Daesh will continue to thrive on our divisions”, she added.
On the ground, Daesh continues its violence. At least 120 died in a double attack led by Daesh south of Damascus on Sunday 21 February. This is the worst toll from these attacks since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011.
Elsewhere, the US and Russia announced on Sunday 21 February that they had reached a provisional agreement of principle on the terms of a cessation of hostilities “which could take effect in the coming days”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)