PE650 European Parliament-UN SYRIA 2013 Xi Jinping, Obama, Putin, Hollande, Cameron

Plenary Session of the European Parliament, Strasbourg (France) 09-12.09.2013

Deterrent measures against Syria must not be excluded, say MEPs

MEPs strongly condemn the mass killing of civilians with chemical weapons on 21 August 2013 in the outskirts of Damascus and urge that measures be taken to prevent any further use of chemical weapons in Syria or elsewhere. They say the UN Security Council must get the report of the UN inspection team as soon as possible and they also voice support for the proposal to hand the Syrian chemical weapons to international community for its destruction as soon as possible.

UN must act

The international community's ultimatum must be accompanied by a binding United Nations Security Council resolution, which, if not respected, could be imposed on the basis of "all the instruments provided for in the United Nations Charter", MEPs underline.

Parliament says Russia and China must face their responsibility as permanent members of the Security Council to achieve a common position and a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis. In the event of a persistent blockage in the Security Council, the matter could be referred to the UN General Assembly, MEPs stress.

A lasting solution to the current crisis in Syria can be achieved only through an inclusive political process backed by the international community, MEPs say. They call for President Bashar Assad and his regime to step aside.

Step up support for refugees

The EU must live up to its humanitarian responsibility and step up its assistance to Syrian refugees, MEPs say, urging all sides of the conflict to facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid and assistance.

Source : www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/

A philatelic envelope, designed by Historiaphil© (Philately Kiosk of the European Parliament, Strasbourg, France) commemorates the highlights of the September 2013 Strasbourg (France) plenary session of the European Parliament. It was produced as a continuation of the collection of philatelic envelopes bearing witness since 1949 to the history of Europe and its institutions. Its edition is limited to 200 numbered copies.