Foreign Minister Westerwelle: Syrian border violation to end immediately

Today lunchtime, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle met with HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, in the Federal Foreign Office. The talks centred on the situation in Syria, efforts to strengthen the Syrian opposition, the humanitarian crisis faced by the people, as well as the conflict surrounding the Iranian nuclear programme.

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle issued the following statement after the talks:

> We must prevent the Syrian conflict spilling over to neighbouring countries. I call upon the Syrian regime to end immediately all provocations and attacks at the Syrian Turkish border. Every day of this smouldering border conflict heightens the danger of the dispute enflaming the entire region.

> Turning to Iran, I am very concerned about the dangers emanating from the unresolved questions about the Iranian nuclear programme, dangers to the stability of the Gulf Region which is strategically so important. Iran must finally credibly prove that its nuclear programme has no military objectives. Due to the ongoing lack of transparency, we will have to discuss tightening sanctions at the next EU Foreign Affairs Council.