During the EP plenary session (12 - 15 March 2018) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on the situation in Syria. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO) and Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL).

Situation in Syria: extracts from the debate

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Arrival of Federica Mogherini (atmosphere shots, 4 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, The daily 5 hour truce can, yes, be a first step, but it&rsquo;s clearly not sufficient. Syria needs a full cessation of hostilities as agreed by the UN Security Council and it is also unacceptable that the Syrian regime removed critical medical items from the convoy in clear violation of international humanitarian law.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, The new escalation of violence in Eastern Ghouta but also in Afrin can push further away chances for a political solution to the conflict and can easily lead to an even more dramatic escalation, even in these hours. Now we need to concentrate all our energies in supporting and revitalising the UN led negotiations in Geneva, in a determined and consistent manner, gathering the efforts of all the partners in the region and the international community.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, The perspective of reconstruction can help the Geneva process. And this is why we continue to work also to prepare for peace as the most powerful leverage we have to encourage positive dynamic and outcome of negotiations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, We cannot afford to stop working for peace and it is exactly in the darkest moments that the work for peace is most needed. We the EU do not give up on the Syrian people and will call to the rest of the world to do the same.

SOUNDBITE (French), Cristian Dan PREDA (EPP, RO), The Syrian regime and its Iranian and Russian protectors have left the people there with one choice which is to leave or die. But leave to where? To another region also being bombed? Only one thing is clear, you cannot massacre hundreds of thousands of civilians and then hope to reintegrate them into a future Syrian society led by the Assad clan. There can be no reconstruction without these criminals paying for their acts.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), High Representative Mogherini and colleagues: are you also getting sick of this debate again and again and again? The toxic, cynical and bloody cycle that is the war in Syria must stop. It is not too late for us in the EU to play a more effective and meaningful role towards peace, justice and accountability for Syrians.

Situation in Syria: extracts from the debate

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Situation in Syria