Luxembourg, Oct 12 (CTK correspondent) – The European Union (EU) must primarily unite its stance on Syria, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said yesterday when he arrived in Luxembourg to attend a meeting with his EU counterparts.
Syrian President Bashar Assad must participate in the negotiations about a ceasefire in Syria, but he cannot continue to lead the country for long over the crimes he has committed against his own citizens, Zaoralek said, adding that the ceasefire in Syria must also be discussed with Russia.
“It is not possible for us to have two positions. A solution must lie in a compromise,” Zaoralek said.
The conditions under which Assad could play just a limited role during a certain transitory period might also be debated, he added.
According to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federika Mogherini, yesterday’s meeting should express a clear support for the U.N. efforts to mediate peace in Syria.
High numbers of refugees have been flowing from Syria across the Middle East countries to Europe for months. This is also why the effort to calm down the situation in this country has become one of the EU priorities.
However, the Russian intervention in Syria in favour of Assad has complicated the situation.
Moscow has thus become part of the problem, Zaoralek said. “But it must also be part of the solution. Russia is one of the players with whom we must be seeking a new balance that will lead to the ceasefire,” said Zaoralek.
Russia justifies its intervention, which it has not coordinated with the Western coalition fighting Islamic State, by support for the legitimate Syrian government and the fight against terrorism.
“It is not possible that each of us deals with their particular interests there. We must seek solutions for Syria that will start building… its institutions alone,” Zaoralek said.
He added that the crimes of the Assad regime were well mapped, pointing to a series of photographs of the victims of torturing that a Syrian police photographer had smuggled abroad. They are being displayed now.
This is also why the current Syrian leadership can hardly have the legitimate right to keep governing.
“On the other hand, Assad still plays quite an important role and enjoys influence in the area. I still suppose that without Assad and his regime, it is not possible to seek a way out of the situation,” Zaoralek said.
He added that all who can contribute to a ceasefire must be united.
“All except for extremists, such as representatives of Islamic State, must sit down at the [negotiating] table,” he concluded.
