EU Foreign Ministers, meeting Monday in Luxembourg agreed to strenghten the EU sanctions against the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad ‘’as it continues its brutal war against its own people.’’
They banned the export of jet fuel and relevant additives exported to Syria ‘’as they are being used for indiscriminate air attacks against on civilians,’’ an EU statement EU said.
During their meeting, the EU ministers also discussed the international campaign to defeat Islamic State, the Sunni terrorist group that is also fighting Syrian authorities.
There has been growing debate within the EU over its position in the Syria conflict as international efforts have escalated to contain the threat posed both in Syria and in Iraq by the Islamic State.
While EU countries have focused their military assistance on those fighting Islamic State in Iraq, officials privately acknowledge the tensions between effectively combating Islamic State in Syria while also pushing for the ouster of the Assad regime, which is itself fighting against the group.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has said there is no contradiction between opposing both the Assad regime and Islamic State.
Monday’s EU statement unreservedly condemned the atrocities, killings and human rights abuses perpetrated by Isil/Daesh and other terrorist groups in both Syria and Ira as well as by the Assad regime in Syria. ‘’The EU is determined to contribute to the international endeavor to defeat these terrorist groups,’’ the statement added.
The statement clearly said that ‘’instability in Syria caused by the Assad regime’s brutal war against its own people, massive human rights violations and systemic obstruction against democratic reforms have allowed the ISIL to flourish.’’
‘’The Assad regime cannot be a partner in the fight against ISIL,’’ the EU stated.