Statement by the spokesperson on the Geneva talks on Syria

The Geneva talks between the parties to the Syrian conflict are the essential path to a transitional political process that will restore peace to this war-ravaged country and hope to its people.  The EU has full confidence in the UN and its Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, to conduct this process.

For it to succeed, it requires both sides to respect the cessation of hostilities agreement and allow the humanitarian access that will enable the populations under siege or in hard to reach areas to receive the support they need.  Considerable progress has been made in the weeks since the cessation of hostilities entered in to force, though in recent days it has been threatened by unilateral or retaliatory actions by one side or the other.  If both sides do not step back, the situation will simply return to the violent stalemate that has caused such suffering in the past. The EU calls on the guarantors of the cessation of hostilities and the relevant task force to bring the maximum influence to bear in order to end these breaches of the agreement.

It also requires that both sides participate fully, and in good faith, in the negotiations, which should continue under UNSE de Mistura as agreed. Sooner or later only political negotiations can resolve this conflict, and for the sake of all the people of Syria, this should be sooner.

The EU will continue its joint efforts with the UN to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and stands ready to support the political process by all the means at its disposal.