"The humanitarian plight of the Syrian people has worsened and we will remain at the forefront of the efforts to bring assistance to those in need" - Catherine Ashton

EUROPEA1 U1IO1

Brussels, 6 July 2012

A 309/12

Statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton

following the meeting of the Friends of the Syrian People

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and VicePresident of the Commission issued the following statement today:

"I participated today in the meeting of the Friends of the Syrian people in Paris. The overwhelming

response of so many States and organizations shows the strong commitment of the international

community to support the Syrian people as the tragic situation on the ground continues to

deteriorate. Violence is increasing and numbers of casualties have reached unimaginable levels.

The risk of full civil war has become even more real.

The regime is clearly responsible for the brutality of the repression. Instead of freeing detainees

and withdrawing its troops and heavy weapons from urban areas, Assad's regime continues with

the shelling of innocent civilians.

Any further militarisation of the conflict will have a serious impact not only on the Syrian people

but on the region as a whole. We can already see serious effects in neighbouring countries who

shoulder the largest and most difficult burden. We will continue to support them.

I also participated in the Action Group meeting last Saturday in Geneva. We now have a concrete

roadmap for a Syrian-led transition and a clear mandate for Kofi Annan to take this forward. He

has an extraordinarily difficult task. *ow, collectively, we will have to ensure its implementation

and increase the pressure on the regime. The unity and coherence of the international community is

essential. That is why the U*SC must act now and ask for the implementation of Kofi Annan's plan

and the roadmap agreed in Geneva, including international sanctions.

The humanitarian plight of the Syrian people has worsened and we will remain at the forefront of

the efforts to bring assistance to those in need. Lack of access remains the biggest obstacle."

____________________

P R E S S

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Michael Mann +32 498 999 780 - +32 2 299 97 80 - [email protected]

Maja Kocijancic +32 498 984 425 - +32 2 298 65 70 - [email protected]

Sebastien Brabant +32 460 75 09 98- [email protected]

[email protected]

www.eeas.europa.eu

E1

بيان الممثلة العليا كاثرين أشتون بعد اجتماع أصدقاء الشعب السوري في باريس، يؤكد تدهور الوضع الإنساني والتزام الاتحاد بقيادة جهود مساعدة السوريين.