EU foreign policy chief Ashton urges Syria to comply, UN Security Council to take responsibility

STRASBOURG - Agence France-Presse

European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton addresses the European Parliament during a debate on the situation in Syria, Sept. 11. REUTERS photo

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Sept. 11 urged Syria to "fully" follow up on a pledge to give up chemical weapons and the U.N. Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities.

"I have consistently emphasised the need to continue efforts in the Security Council," Ashton told members of the European Parliament.

Most European Union nations have consistently opposed calls by Britain and France to join U.S.-led military strikes against President Bashar al-Assad, calling instead for a political solution and a U.N. role.

"The role of the Security Council is crucial and irreplaceable," Ashton said. "It is regrettable that the Council has been unable to reach agreement on how to shoulder its responsibilities with regard to the Syrian conflict." Speaking during a debate on Syria in the 751-member parliament, Ashton said it was vital to seize the momentum created by Russia's proposal to place Syria's chemical weapons arsenal under control and eventually destroy it.

Efforts for peace conference 'should move ahead'

"However we need to proceed with prudence and examine these developments," she said. "First and foremost the Syrian regime must agree to such an international action fully and without conditions." She also reiterated the EU stand that there was "no military solution" to the protracted conflict that began in March 2011, costing more than 110,000 lives.

Efforts to hold a peace conference, known as Geneva II, "must move ahead as soon as conditions permit," she said.

Earlier, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso too urged Syria to show readiness "without delay" to destroy the weapons blamed for an August 21 attack that left hundreds dead outside Damascus.

Delivering his annual "state of the union" speech before the European Parliament, Barroso said "the use of chemical weapons is a horrendous act that deserves a clear condemnation and a strong answer." "The international community, with the United Nations at its centre, carries a collective responsibility to sanction these acts and to put an end to this conflict." "The proposal to put Syria's chemical weapons beyond use is potentially a positive development," he added.

"The Syrian regime must now demonstrate that it will implement this without any delay." He recalled too that the 28-member bloc had been the world's leading aid donor since the two-and-a-half year conflict began, delivering almost 1.5 billion euros ($2 billion) in aid, of which 850 million were directly from the European Union budget.