EP debate calls for end to proxy-wars in Syria

BRUSSELS, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- The European Parliament debated the situation in Syria during its full session in Strasbourg Wednesday with speakers warning that the Russian military intervention will further complicate the situation.
"A military escalation and a civil war will lead nowhere. It will only prolong the agony of the conflict. Fighting terrorism is one thing, in Syria it means fighting the groups defined as terrorists by the UN, including Daesh (ISIL) And Jibhat Al Nusra," said Nicolas Schmit, minister of labour, employment and social economy of Luxembourg whose country holds the current EU Presidency. He was speaking on behalf of EU High Representative Federica Mogherini who did not attend the debate.
He noted that the EU has spent 4 billion euros to deal with the Syrian refugee crisis and added that "faced with the additional flows of refugees this year, we are going to spend more." Elmar Brok, head of the EP's foreign affairs committee, said "I have the impression that it is a second level of proxy-war here, involving Russia and America." "So the question is to what extend can Russia stabilise its position as power on the long term through is actions in Syria, and how can America prevent that," he said.
British MEP Richard Howitt, said "now with the Russian intervention in Syria and the potential for a clash in its air space we face the danger of the biggest proxy-war of all." French MEP Arnaud Danjean, warned that "we are facing a crisis, which is just one among others, in terms of the decomposition of the Middle East. There are different frontlines there. Diplomacy should involve all regional stakeholders." (end) nk.mt