Syria - Draft Council Conclusions (Political and Security Committee note)

COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 23 January 2012

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NOTE

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Subject :

1.

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Political and Security Committee

23 January 2012

COREPER/Council

Syria

- Draft Council Conclusions

At its meeting on 23 January 2012, the Political and Security Committee agreed the Draft

Council conclusions on Syria set out in annex.

2.

COREPER is therefore invited to confirm and approve the Draft conclusions and to transmit

them to Council for adoption.

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ANNEX

Draft Council conclusions on Syria

1.

The European Union remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Syria and

the widespread and systematic violations of human rights and calls again for an immediate

end to the violence. The EU is particularly concerned by the recent escalation of violence

and reiterates its condemnation in the strongest terms of the brutal crackdown by the Syrian

government which risks exacerbating even further the spiral of violence, sectarian clashes

and militarization. President Assad must step aside immediately to allow for a peaceful and

democratic transition.

2.

The EU strongly condemns the bombs attacks in Damascus on 23 December 2011 and on 6

January 2012 causing scores of deaths and injuries. Any acts of terrorism are criminal and

unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation and by whosoever committed. The EU also

condemns the attack on 11 January that killed a French journalist and several Syrian

civilians, injuring many more people, including a Dutch journalist. The EU calls for light to

be shed on this attack. The Syrian authorities have a responsibility to guarantee the safety of

journalists in their country. The press must be allowed to carry out its vital role of providing

independent information on the events in Syria without fear of violence or repression.

3.

The EU recalls its support to the League of Arab States’ efforts to end the cycle of violence

in Syria, and to the deployment of its monitoring mission. The EU is deeply concerned by

the Syrian authorities’ lack of cooperation and urges them to fully comply with their

commitments under the League of Arab States’ Action Plan to completely stop acts of

violence against civilians, free political detainees, remove troops, tanks and weapons from

cities, and allow independent observers and the media, to freely travel in and report on Syria.

4.

The EU condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on the League of Arab States’ mission

monitors and calls for an impartial and swift investigation into the events. The mission must

be able to act safely and with independence and to access all detention facilities

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5.

The EU welcomes the League of Arab States’ decision to increase the mission’s capacity to

report independently on the situation in Syria. The EU takes note of the League of Arab

States monitors mission report and its referral to the UN Secretary General. The EU

welcomes the decision of the UN to provide training and assistance to the League's

monitors.

6.

Given the Syrian regime’s continued use of violence against civilians, the EU has today

designated further 22 individuals and 8 entities to be subject to restrictive measures. The EU

will continue its policy of imposing additional measures against the regime, not to the

civilian population, as long as repression continues. Following the assessment of EU

Member States, the listing of designated persons who have dissociated themselves from the

repressive policy of the regime will be reconsidered. The EU calls on the international

community to join its efforts to target those responsible for or associated with the violent

repression and those who support or benefit from the regime

7.

The EU reiterates its strong support to the Syrian people and encourages the Syrian

opposition to make all efforts to strengthen coordination on the way forward in order to

realise an orderly transition to a Syria that is democratic, stable, inclusive and that

guarantees minority rights. It supports the efforts of the League of Arab States in this

respect. The EU will continue to engage with representative members of the Syrian

opposition, such as the SNC, which adhere to non violence, inclusiveness and democratic

values.

8.

The EU reiterates its strong concerns about the deteriorating living conditions of the Syrian

people in a great number of localities affected by the unrest. The Syrian authorities must

immediately alleviate the suffering of the population living in these areas, respect and

protect the wounded and sick, guarantee unhindered access to medical care without any

discrimination or reprisal and refrain from intimidation of those providing medical

assistance. The Syrian authorities must allow full and unimpeded access of relief personnel

from international humanitarian organisations for the timely delivery of humanitarian aid to

persons in need of assistance.

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9.

The EU urges all members of the UN Security Council to uphold their responsibilities to end

the violence against the Syrian population and support the Syrian people in their desire for

freedom and political rights. The EU welcomes the establishment by the UN Human Rights

Council of a Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Syria and urges the Syrian

Government to fully cooperate with the Rapporteur. The EU recalls the main findings of the

report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry which stated that crimes against humanity

may have been committed in the country. The EU looks forward to the next debate of the

UN Human Rights Council on Syria on the 29 February 2012.

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مذكرة من اللجنة السياسية والأمنية تتضمن مسودة استنتاجات المجلس حول سورية (كانون الثاني/ يناير 2012)، تعبّر عن القلق العميق وتدعم مبادرة جامعة الدول العربية.