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13:22 GMT
BRUSSELS, Feb 27 (KUNA) -- The EU Foreign Affairs Council Monday said the
27-member European bloc supports the Syrian opposition in its struggle for
freedom, dignity and democracy.
"The EU recognises the Syrian National Council as a legitimate
representative of Syrians seeking peaceful democratic change," said the
Council which is meeting here today.
The EU urged the Syrian opposition to set up a representative coordination
mechanism under the auspices of the Arab League and to agree on a set of
shared principles for working towards an orderly and peaceful transition in
Syria.
The statement said the EU will remain in close contact with the League of
Arab States, the United Nations, the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation,
the Gulf Cooperation Council and other regional organisations with the aim of
providing a forum for coordinating their action on Syria in support of the
League of Arab States' initiatives with regard to the Syrian crisis.
The EU welcomes the decision of the League of Arab States to increase
economic pressure on the Syrian regime and stands ready to support the League
of Arab States in the area of sanctions and restrictive measures.
The EU welcomed the commitment of the participants of the Friends of Syria
Group to take steps to apply and enforce restrictive measures and sanctions on
the Syrian regime and its supporters.
The EU "deeply regrets that the United Nations Security Council was unable
to support the call of the League of Arab States for an inclusive, Syrian-led
political process," noted the statement.
The EU called once more on all members of the UNSC to assume their
responsibilities.
"The time has come for the international community to speak with one voice
and demand an end to the bloodshed and speak out for a democratic future for
Syria," it stressed.
It welcomed the appointment of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, as
the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and League of Arab States on the
Syrian crisis.
The EU will support his efforts to bring an end to all violence and human
rights violations and promoting a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis, it
added. (end)
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