Global Arab Network | EU hails Syrian National Council, calls on regime to end violence

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EU hails Syrian National Council, calls on regime to end violence

Global Arab Network - - Amal Hasson

Monday, 10 October 2011 15:08

http://www.globalarabnetwork.com/images/stories/2011/july/Syrian_National_Council_SNC_-_.jpg

Global Arab Network - The European Union welcomed the creation of an opposition council in Syria (Syrian National Council), which is seeking international support for a seven-month uprising against Bashar al-Assad.

A statement agreed by EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg welcomed the moves by the political opposition in Syria to establish a united platform and called on the international community also to welcome these efforts.

"...The EU notes the creation of the Syrian National Council as a positive step forward," the statement said.

Syria threatened on Sunday to retaliate against any country that formally recognised the opposition council.

While formation of the council has already been welcomed by some of Assad's Western critics, including the United States and France, they have not embraced it diplomatically as they did the Libyan rebels who overthrew Muammar Gaddafi.

EU ministers and officials said any such moves, which would have to come from individual countries, were some way off.

"I think we will have to find out a bit more yet," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said before the meeting. "We need to find out more and decide what we are going to do."

"I think we have been consistent in wanting to see significant change in Syria. The number of people who have died there is terrible. The continued approach of the government to repress people is awful. We've been working closely with our colleagues in the (United Nations) Security Council and with Turkey now in trying to put the pressure on."

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he had met some opposition activists and continued to call on the government to end the violence.

"That is the immediate priority," he said. "The EU as a whole and member states will want to appeal for (an end to violence). Of course we can't directly intervene."

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said France wanted to have contacts with the opposition, adding: "We are pleased to see the opposition has organised."

Asked about recognising the council, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said: "We are talking to them, as we are talking to a lot of other people who have the ability to influence events in Syria. We will be discussing that further today."

Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal said the EU should do everything in terms of sanctions to force Assad to step down.

"We know that the sanctions up until now on the part of the European Union are working," he said. "We think that if that is the case we should look for more sanctions and especially for a rigorous implementation of the sanctions at hand." (Agencies)

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