High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has condemned in the strongest possible terms the “horrific crimes committed against civilians, including summary killings, many of which have been allegedly perpetrated by armed groups supporting the security forces of the transitional authorities” in Syria.
In a statement issued on behalf of the EU on the evening of Tuesday 11 March, the High Representative welcomed the commitments made by the transitional authorities, in particular the creation of a commission of inquiry to bring the perpetrators to justice, in accordance with the norms and standards of international law. “The EU calls for a swift, transparent and impartial investigation to be conducted to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice”, stressed Ms Kallas, also calling on the transitional authorities to authorise the independent international commission of inquiry into the Syrian Arab Republic to investigate all violations. “Everything must be done to prevent any such crimes from happening again”, she warned.
Also strongly condemning the attacks by pro-Assad militias against the security forces, Ms Kallas called once again for an end to the violence in Syria. She urged all parties to protect Syrians “of all religious and ethnic origins without discrimination“ and called for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and respect for international law, human rights and humanitarian law in all circumstances.
The European Union also welcomed the agreement reached on 10 March between the transitional authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), encouraging the parties to work towards its implementation and stating the EU’s readiness to support them.
Finally, the High Representative recalled the EU’s suspension of restrictive measures as part of a gradual and reversible approach, adding that it would continue to examine possible further suspensions of sanctions by closely monitoring the situation in the country.
On 17 March in Brussels, the EU is organising the ninth conference on Syria, which should make it possible to “mobilise funds from the international community to support the immediate needs of all the Syrian people and the first stages of the transition”, according to European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica.
See the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/fw1 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)