EU's Aston Condemns Violence in Syria

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Wednesday that members of the UN Security Council should shoulder responsibility for ending rising violence in Syria and again called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step aside.

              

The top EU diplomat met King Abdullah of Jordan earlier in the day to discussed regional developments including escalating violence in Syria and the stagnant peace process.

 

[Catherine Ashton, EU Foreign Policy Chief]:          

"I call upon all members of the Security Council to consider yet again the responsibilities of the UN, in that I work with the Arab league and I pay tribute to Nabeel al Arabia for his leadership but I think we are all searching for ways in which we can try and support the people."

 

[Catherine Ashton, EU Foreign Policy Chief]:         

"I just think what is happening in Syria is appalling. I don't really have the vocabulary to describe the situation the people are finding themselves in. And I have been very clear on behalf of all 27 member states of the European Union that leadership does not involve the murder of your own people or anyone else, it involves working with your people and finding solutions. And we have been very clear therefore, that President Assad should step aside."

              

Ashton arrived in Jordan to take part in a task force gathering for officials from the Kingdom and the EU as part of efforts to boost cooperation between the two sides.