EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 4 February 2012
A 44/12

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:

‘We deeply regret that due to the renewed veto of the Russian Federation and China the Security Council was unable to support the call of the League of Arab States for an inclusive, Syrian-led political process conducted in an environment free from violence.
The EU continues to support all efforts of the League of Arab States and calls once more on all members of the UNSC to assume their responsibilities.
The time has come to speak with one voice and demand an end to the bloodshed and speak out for a democratic future for Syria.
We condemn the ongoing
bloodshed and stand by the Syrian people against the repressive regime. We call on President
Assad to end immediately the killing of civilians, withdraw the Syrian army from besieged towns
and cities and step aside in order to make room for a peaceful transition for the sake of his country.’