Syria: Catherine Ashton condemns attacks in Deraa and in Damascus

EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 11 May 2012

A 221/12

Statement by the EU High Representative on

recent attacks in Syria

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the

Commission, Catherine Ashton, issued the following statement today:

"I join the UN Security Council in condemning the recent attacks in Syria in the southern town of

Deraa and in Damascus. The twin bomb attacks in Damascus occurred just before 8 a.m. at rush

hour time with commuters travelling to work and children to school. The timing indicates that the

attacks were intended to inflict a maximum number of casualties and damage. The scenes of

devastation after the explosion show that no thought was given to sparing innocent lives. I express

my sincere condolences to the victims and the families of the victims of these acts of terrorism that

took so many lives and injured more than a hundred people.

Wednesday's roadside bomb attack as a convoy of the UN Supervision Mission in Syria, UNSMIS,

was entering Deraa is another demonstration of the difficult conditions under which the mission

operates. As the UN Secretary General stated to the Security Council earlier this week, the

unending wave of violence makes Special Envoy Kofi Annan's mission to strive for peace and calm

all the more difficult. His six point plan is the only way forward to find a peaceful solution to the

crisis in Syria.

I call on the parties to fully cooperate with his mission and do their outmost to achieve a cessation

of violence without further delay.

I want to reiterate my great concerns about the humanitarian plight of the Syrian population and

call again on the authorities to grant immediate, unimpeded and full access of humanitarian

organisations to all areas of Syria."

____________________

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

EN

بيان الممثلة العليا كاثرين أشتون يدين التفجيرين في دمشق والهجوم على موكب بعثة المراقبين الأممية في درعا.