Brussels, 15/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On the evening of Thursday 14 April, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, expressed her concern at the recent violations of the ceasefire in Syria, with reports of “new Syrian regime offensives near Aleppo and east of Damascus”.
In her statement, Mogherini also said that “much more needs to be done” on humanitarian access. “Humanitarian personnel must be authorised to make proper assessment and provide relief and medical care”, she said. “The UN has still not received permission to visit the remaining besieged areas, including Darayya and Douma, that have become sad symbols of Syrian suffering”, she added. She criticised the fact that medical supplies were “desperately needed and constantly being blocked”. According to Mogherini, the Syrian regime and its allies are responsible for 15 of the 18 besieged areas.
She went on to say that the resumption of intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva on 13 April was “an encouraging step”. She voiced her hopes that the Syrian parties and their supporters would engage in the process, particularly as regards the consolidation and expansion of the cessation of hostilities, as well as humanitarian access and the political transition “with a real willingness to reach a solution”, which continues to be “most crucial”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)