Syria: EU condemns shooting down of Turkish plane and steps up sanctions

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Syria: EU condemns shooting down of Turkish plane and steps up sanctions

25-06-2012

EU foreign ministers today condemned the shooting down of a Turkish military plane by Syria, while once again stepping up sanctions against the Damascus regime, as they strongly condemned the "brutal violence and massacres of civilians".

"The European Union condemns the unacceptable shooting down by Syria of a Turkish military plane on 22 June," said the Conclusions on Syria agreed at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg today. "It offers its sympathies to the families of the airmen involved, and commends Turkey's measured and responsible initial reaction."

The statement said the EU noted that this was a matter that needed to be investigated thoroughly and urgently, calling on Syria to cooperate fully with Turkey and allow full access for an immediate investigation.

The Conclusions agreed by EU ministers also strongly condemned "the brutal violence and massacres of civilians, many of them children and women, such as in the town of Houla on 26 May, and in the villages of Qubair and Maarzaf in Hama province on 6 June". The EU was also appalled by reports on the use of children as human shields, the statement said.

In response to the escalating violence, the EU once again reinforced sanctions against the Syrian regime, agreeing to freeze the assets of six entities supporting the regime and adding one more person to those subjected to a travel ban and asset freeze.

This brings the total number of persons subject to sanctions to 129 whereas 49 entities are now affected by an EU asset freeze.

Announcing the decision, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said: "I am gravely concerned by the escalating violence in Syria. As long as the repression continues, the EU will continue imposing sanctions against the regime. They target those responsible for the violence, not the civilian population." (EU Neighbourhood Info)

Read more

Council Conclusions on Syria

Sixteenth round of EU sanctions against the Syrian regime

European Commission – Factsheet - The European Union and Syria (May 2012)

European External Action Service – Frequently Asked Questions on EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime

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