The EU summit participants noted that the parties in Syria should fully implement their obligations under the Sochi agreements.
Leaders of the 27 EU member states call on the parties to the conflict in Syria to immediately stop military operations in the province of Idlib. This was stated in a statement by the heads of state and government, who are holding an extraordinary meeting on Friday in Brussels.
“The renewed military offensive of the Syrian regime and its supporters in Idlib, which has caused great human suffering, is unacceptable. The EU calls on all parties to cease hostilities immediately”, – it says.
The document stresses that the parties to the conflict in Syria must fully comply with their obligations in the framework of the agreements reached in Sochi on the Syrian settlement. “The EU reiterates its strongest call on all parties to ensure a sustainable ceasefire, guarantee the protection of civilians and fully implement their obligations under the Sochi Memorandum of 17 September 2018,” it says.
In addition, EU leaders called for “unhindered and direct humanitarian access to all those in need”.
“Accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law is of paramount importance. For this reason, the EU reiterates its call for the situation in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court. The EU is committed to strengthening its humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable civilians in Idlib”, – the European Council said in a statement.