Declaration by EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the EU on the violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrators in Syria

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EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 22 March 2011

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Declaration by High Representative, Catherine Ashton,

on behalf of the EU on the violent crackdown

on peaceful demonstrators in Syria

The EU expresses its profound concern and strongly condemns the violent repression,

including through the use of live ammunition, of peaceful protests in various locations

across Syria in recent days resulting in the death of several demonstrators, wounded

persons and arbitrary detentions, which is unacceptable.

The EU calls on the Syrian authorities to refrain from using violence and to listen to the

legitimate aspirations of the people and address them through inclusive political dialogue

and genuine reforms and not through repression.

The EU expects that the Investigation Committee created by the Ministry of Interior after

the violent repression in the city of Daraa will ensure that those responsible for the death

and injury of peaceful protestors are held accountable.

The EU calls on the Syrian authorities to respect its international commitments to human

rights and fundamental freedoms.

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The Candidate Countries Croatia*, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*,

Montenegro* and Iceland+, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and

potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and the EFTA countries

Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as the

Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

* Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro continue to be

part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

+

Iceland continues to be a member of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.

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إعلان من الممثلة العليا باسم الاتحاد الأوروبي يدين القمع العنيف للتظاهرات السلمية في سورية باستخدام الذخيرة الحية الذي أدى إلى مقتل متظاهرين.