EU Foreign Ministers call for ‘international independent investigation’ of Syrian regime’s violence
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                  EU Foreign Ministers call for ‘international independent investigation’ of Syrian regime’s violence

                  Arriving at a foreign affairs council meeting, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton insisted foreign leaders must “continue the pressure on Syria, we have to continue to be very clear in our belief that President Assad has to step aside”

                  EU Foreign Ministers call for ‘international independent investigation’ of Syrian regime’s violence

                  23.07.2012, Israel and the World

                  The EU foreign affairs council met in Brussels Monday to address the increasingly desperate situation in Syria, after Russia and China dashed the international community’s hopes of ramping up the pressure on authoritarian leader Bashar al Assad at last week’s UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting.
                  Keen to stress her continued dialogue with Russian and Chinese leaders on arrival at the forum, in the wake of their decisive veto of further UN-backed sanctions, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton insisted foreign leaders must “continue the pressure on Syria, we have to continue to be very clear in our belief that President Assad has to step aside”.
                  The council’s conclusions strongly condemned the controversial albeit widely-anticipated outcome of Thursday’s UNSC, expressing its “regret” that the council had “failed to uphold its responsibilities” and calling for “united action by all members of the UNSC, including Russia and China, to add more robust and effective pressure and ensure that there will be serious consequence for continued non compliance” of the Syrian regime with Kofi Annan’s efforts to instigate a peaceful political transition in the country.
                  The timely meeting saw council members call for “an immediate international independent investigation” of “the ever increasing use of force by the regime, including use of heavy artillery and shelling against populated areas”, urging Assad’s administration to “end immediately the killing of civilians, withdraw the Syrian army from besieged towns and cities and to allow for a peaceful transition for the sake of the country”.
                  Re-emphasising its support for UN-Arab League envoy Annan’s beleaguered six-point peace plan, the council resolved to “encourage Kofi Annan to continue working on the implementation of this transition plan, including with the (UN) Action Group, and urges all parties to support these efforts”.
                  Condemning the “systematic and widespread human rights violations and abuses” by Assad’s forces, the council concluded that the regime’s actions “demonstrates its outright contempt for human rights”, calling for an independent international investigation “with a view to hold to account those responsible for such violations, including for those that may amount to crimes against humanity”.
                  Cautioning that “further militarisation of the conflict and sectarian violence can only bring further suffering” to civilians, the foreign delegates stressed that “the main responsibility for the current crisis lies with the Syrian authorities”.
                  The council echoed the concerns of Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman in his meeting in Brussels Monday with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius ahead of Tuesday’s EU-Israel Association Council meeting, of the potential use of chemical weapons in Syria. Calling for member states to ensure arms did not cross their borders into Syria, it warned that the greatest concern for the region is currently “the influx of weapons into Syria”.
                  Speaking in a press conference following the meeting European foreign delegates, Ashton said: “The existence of chemical weapons in any area of conflict is a concern,” adding that “as far as I am aware there is no danger of them being employed, but information is hard to come by”.
                  She further confirmed that in response to the escalating crisis, “we have extended our arms embargo to Syria”, adding that a 17th round of sanctions on individuals and entities associated with the Syrian regime would come into force on Wednesday and it is the responsibility of member states “to determine how best to police their borders, waters and airspace”, to ensure arms did not reach Syria. The council agreed to add 26 individuals to the list of those sanctioned, bringing the total number of sanctioned individuals to 155 and entities to 52.
                  The council stated of the extension to embargoes which have been in force since May 2011: “EU countries will be obliged to inspect vessels and aircraft heading to Syria if they suspect the cargo contains arms or equipment for internal repression”, adding that on inspection in member states’ seaports and airports, “items that may not be exported to Syria under EU law must be seized”.
                  Ashton was also keen to emphasise the council’s united approach to offering “additional support including financial help to neighbouring countries, including Lebanon and Jordan, to host the increasing number of Syrian refugees fleeing violence in Syria”.
                  The council stated: “The EU remains deeply concerned about the spill-over effects of the Syrian crisis in neighbouring countries in terms of security and stability. It calls on the Syrian regime to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of neighbouring countries,” concluding that “the regime’s brutality has had tragic effects in Syria and serious repercussions in neighbouring countries”.
                  She also commended that Arab League for its efforts in “examining options” for ensuring justice is done to Assad, following an emergency meeting in Qatar on Sunday, which saw members call on Assad to step down from power in Syria. With regard to the repercussions facing his regime following his hoped-for displacement, Ashton said: “We’re looking into what is being explored and will make a decision when things have been concluded on the ground”.
                  The 22 member states of the Arab League met in Doha to call on opposition group the Free Syrian Army to form a transition government, with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani declaring: “There is agreement on the need for the rapid resignation of President Bashar al Assad”, calling on the authoritarian leader to “courageously” step down to bring to an end 17 months of fighting in his country.
                  Despite agreeing to a $100 million aid package for Syria’s neighbouring countries to help house Syrian refugees, the Arab League leaders further courted controversy by urging Israel to refrain from involvement in the Syrian crisis and agreeing to support a Palestinian bi for unilateral recognition at the UN General Assembly.
                  Addressing reports of “recent high profile defections, the EU foreign affairs council called on “all Syrians to disassociate themselves from the repressive policy regime in order to facilitate a political transition”.

                  by: Shari Ryness

                  EJP