EU condemns Assad's crackdown on Syria rebels

PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union committed itself on Friday to document war crimes in Syria to set the stage for a "day of reckoning" for the country's leadership, in the way that former Yugoslav leaders were tried for war crimes in the 1990s by a special U.N. tribunal.

The leaders of the 27 EU nations emerged from a two-day summit in Brussels condemning Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime for its nearly yearlong crackdown on an uprising that began with mostly peaceful protests but has developed into a civil war in which Syrian forces fire heavy artillery against civilians, AP reported.

“The European Council is appalled by the situation in Syria and endorses the Council Conclusions of 27 February 2012. In line with the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution of 1 March, it demands that Syrian authorities immediately stop the massive violence and human rights abuses inflicted to the civilian population. The European Council remains determined to ensure that those responsible for the atrocities being committed in Syria are held accountable for their actions and will coordinate closely with and assist those working to document these appalling crimes. The European Council confirms its commitment to further increasing the pressure on the Syrian regime as long as the violence and human rights abuses continue, and invites the Council to prepare further targeted restrictive measures against the regime. It calls on president Assad to step aside to make room for a peaceful transition for the sake of the country. As soon as a democratic transition begins, the EU is ready to develop a new partnership and provide assistance.”

“The European Council calls once more on all members of the United Nations Security Council, particularly Russia and China, to work together in an effort to stop the violence. The European Union supports the Syrian opposition in its struggle for freedom, dignity and democracy, recognises the Syrian National Council as a legitimate representative of Syrians and calls upon all members of the Syrian opposition to unite in its peaceful struggle for a new Syria, where all citizens enjoy equal rights. The European Union calls on all parties to promote a process aiming at a political solution,” European Council said in its statement.