International efforts in the ongoing Syrian crisis should be directing at ending “oppression, stop all violence, deliver humanitarian aid for all those in need, prevent further regional instability and be prepared for the post-conflict period”, concluded a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on Monday.
Reiterating its concerns about vulnerable Syrian civilians, as well as the knock-on effect of the prolonged civil war on the security and resources of neighbouring territories, the EU Council agreed that “the intensification of violence and the recent series of terrorist attacks demonstrate the urgent need for a political transition that would meet the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people and bring stability in Syria”.
In an effort to instigate that democratic transition, which it has called for on numerous occasions, the council announced it had approved the addition of 28 individuals “responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population to the list of those subject to a travel ban and an asset freeze”, in addition to two further entities.
The import of Syrian arm into the EU is now prohibited, as is the supply of financial services to Syrian arms exports by EU individuals and entities. “No EU citizens or companies must be involved in Syrian military cooperation with third countries, which could benefit the Syrian regime,” it concluded. Reiterating the council’s consensus, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said: “We call on all states to refrain from delivering arms to Syria and to follow the EU in stopping the supplies that fuel the fighting.”
The nineteenth round of sanctions aimed at halting the escalating civil war, also banned the access of Syrian Arab Airlines flights to EU airports and subjected the airline to an asset freeze, in addition to existing ban on Syrian cargo flights.
Referencing a series of recent reports about foiled attempts by various states to export arms to Bashar Assad’s authoritarian regime, most notably Turkey’s recent revelations it has intercepted flights carrying weapons to Syria from both Russia and Armenia, the statement added “the EU is deeply concerned about the increasing influx of weapons into Syria and calls on all States to refrain from delivering arms to the country”.
Placing particular emphasis on looking forward towards a post-conflict landscape, the council expressed its support for the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, calling for it to uncover human rights violations “with a view to hold to account those responsible for such violations, including for those that may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes”.
Highlighting that evidence must be accumulated “of the widespread, systematic and gross human rights violations” committed by the regime, in light of the lack of access providing to international media and foreign aid agencies on the ground, it called on the Syrian authorities to cooperate with the independent investigation, cautioning that “those responsible (for the conflict) must be held accountable”.
Reiterating the need for unity of opposition groups within Syria, as well as the international community in bringing an end to the conflict, the council urged such groups “inside and outside Syria, to put aside their difference and to agree on a set of shared principles and start working towards an inclusive, orderly and peaceful transition in Syria”, adding that to achieve a truly inclusive society, “all Syrians must have a place in the new Syria and enjoy equal rights, regardless of their origin, affiliations, religion, beliefs or gender”.
Affirming its commitment to the Syrian people following a “genuine democratic transition”, the council’s statement concluded that “the EU stands ready to develop a new and ambitious partnership with Syria across all areas of mutual interest, including by contributing to a post-conflict needs assessment, mobilising assistance, institution building, strengthening trade and economic relations and supporting transitional justice and the political transition”.