Ashton benadrukt urgentie van een politieke oplossing in Syrië (en)

EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 23 August 2013 A

Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton i on the high urgency of a political solution to the Syrian conflict

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission issued the following statement today:

"I reiterate my strong concerns about the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria and am alarmed by the continued violence in Syria.

Ifully support the UN's call for a thorough, impartial and prompt investigation into these alleged chemical attacks.

The international community must now urgently show a unitedface and ensure that a credible and thorough investigation can be carried out.

Without further delay we must move forward on a diplomatic process along the lines of the initiative for a Geneva II conference as initiated by Secretary of State Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov. We must move beyond our differences. We owe it to the Syrian people who are the ones suffering. The shocking number of children forced to flee Syria and displaced within the country is heart-breaking.

Too many people have sufferedfor far too long and lost far too much. We must now put an end to the spiral of violence, terrorism and to the ever growing flow of refugees. The international community must now act with a sense of urgency and responsibility."