EU Demands 'Immediate' Halt to Russia Strikes on Moderate Syrian Rebels
The EU demanded Monday the "immediate" halt of Russian air strikes against moderate Syrian rebel groups and warned a lasting peace was impossible under Moscow-backed President Bashar Assad.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called Russia's military intervention in Syria an unwelcome "game-changer" that jeopardized peace efforts and risked clashes with western aircraft targeting Islamic State jihadists.
"The recent Russian military attacks that go beyond Daesh (IS) and other U.N.-designated terrorist groups, as well as on the moderate opposition, are of deep concern and must cease immediately," the EU's 28 foreign ministers said in a statement.
"This military escalation risks prolonging the conflict, undermining a political process, aggravating the humanitarian situation and increasing radicalization," they said.
EU leaders meet Thursday for a summit likely to be dominated by the Syrian conflict which has claimed some 250,000 lives and driven about 12 million people -- half the population -- to flee their homes.
Many of them have given up hope of an end to the war and have flooded into Europe seeking refuge, helping drive the worst migrant crisis since World War II.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday Russia's military actions in Syria were meant to "stabilize the legitimate authorities and create conditions for finding a political compromise."
Russia, which insists its attacks on "terrorists" include IS targets, has important military facilities in Syria and has backed Assad and his father before him against all rivals for decades.
Meanwhile in Moscow, the defense ministry said its planes hit 53 targets in Syria over the past 24 hours as it steps up its bombing campaign.
Russian jets conducted strikes in the provinces of Hama, Homs, Latakia and Idlib and destroyed "terrorist" command posts, defensive positions, training camps and ammunition depots, the ministry said in a statement.
It said the bombing raids had severely disrupted supply chains for IS fighters.
EU foreign ministers for their part urged Russia to "focus its efforts on the common objective of achieving a political solution to the conflict."
They said this required "a peaceful and inclusive transition" but it was not clear if Assad would have any role in it, reflecting sharp divisions over his immediate future.
For the longer term, ministers agreed he had no place in Syria.
"There cannot be a lasting peace in Syria under the present leadership and until the legitimate grievances and aspirations of all components of the Syrian society are addressed," they said.
Mogherini warned earlier that Russian intervention in Syria was a dangerous and worrying "game-changer."
Mogherini, a former Italian foreign minister once viewed as sympathetic to Moscow, said Russia must direct its attacks against IS, not the Western-backed rebel groups seeking Assad's ouster.
She refused to be drawn on Assad's future, stressing that the EU would back U.N. efforts to broker a peace deal.
"This is a process which has to have all the relevant actors around the table," she added.
One EU diplomat, who asked not to be named, said: "Everyone knows that you cannot build a transition without Assad."
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond appeared anxious to leave no wriggle room on that question after several of his fellow foreign ministers also suggested that Assad would inevitably be involved in any transition.
"EU foreign ministers ministers have just agreed a clear and united position against Assad, IS and recent Russian actions in Syria."
"Assad bears greatest responsibility for 250,000 deaths/millions displaced. (He) cannot be partner in fight versus IS or part of Syria's future," Hammond said in tweeted messages.
Source: Agence France Presse
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