Catherine Ashton on the announcement of the date of presidential elections in Syria

Brussels, 22 April 2014

140422/01

STATEMENT

by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton

on the announcement of the date of presidential elections in Syria

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs

and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement

today:

"The High Representative deeply regrets the official declaration by the Syrian authorities that

presidential elections will be held in Syria on 3 June 2014.

The High Representative recalls the EU position that any elections in Syria should only take

place within the framework of the Geneva Communique of 2012. Elections organised by the

regime outside this framework, conducted in the midst of conflict, only in regime-controlled

areas and with millions of Syrians displaced from their homes would ignore the basic

principles of democracy, be devoid of credibility, and undermine all efforts to reach a political

solution.

The High Representative reiterates her call on all parties to stop all violence and human

rights abuses and to declare their intention to re-engage in the next rounds of Geneva 2

peace talks based on the Geneva Communique under conditions specified by the Joint Special

Representative Lakhdar Brahimi."

___________________

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Michael Mann +32 498 999 780 - +32 2 584 9780- [email protected] @EUHighRepSpox

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

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

Nabila Massrali +32 460 75 41 75 – [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter @eu_eeas

www.facebook.com/EuropeanExternalActionService

www.eeas.europa.eu

بيان المتحدث باسم الممثلة العليا كاثرين أشتون يأسف لإعلان موعد الانتخابات الرئاسية السورية، بوصفها تقوض جهود الحل السياسي.