Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on an agreement by the International Syria Support Group co-chairs

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 10.09.16
Publication Date 10/09/2016
Content Type

In a Statement issued on the 10 September 2016 by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini, she welcomed the agreement announced by the United States and Russia as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) on the same day reinstating the Cessation of Hostilities in Syria.

Related url hyperlinks below provide information on the subsequent tentative operation and tensions in the ceasefire between the warring factions in Syria, and international actors.

Foreign ministers from countries in the International Syria Support Group met on the 20 September 2016 in New York to discuss the deteriorating situation, which included an accidental US air attack against Syrian government forces, and an air attack against a UN aid convoy thought to be by Syrian government forces.

In a Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and crisis management Christos Stylianides on the 20 September 2016 it was said 'The air strikes against the UN/Syrian Red Crescent humanitarian aid convoy near Aleppo (on the 19 September 2016) are alarming violations of international humanitarian law. This attack risks to set an unacceptable precedent, jeopardising the safe delivery of humanitarian aid everywhere'.

On the 21 September 2016 US authorities publicly accused the Russian military of being behind bombing of a humanitarian convoy in Syria on the 19 September 2016. The airstrike could have only been carried out by the Russian or Syrian military, the White House said, saying it held Russia responsible.

In a Joint Statement on Syria issued on the 25 September 2016 the foreign ministers of France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union said:

'The devastating events in Syria this week underscore what we have been saying for some time: the burden is on Russia to prove it is willing and able to take extraordinary steps to salvage diplomatic efforts to restore a cessation of hostilities (CoH), allow unfettered humanitarian assistance and create the conditions necessary for the resumption of UN-led talks about a political transition.

The outrageous bombing of a humanitarian convoy, the Syrian regime's public denunciation of the CoH, continuing reports that the regime is using chemical weapons, and the unacceptable ongoing regime offensive on eastern Aleppo, supported by Russia, blatantly contradicts Russia’s claim that it supports a diplomatic resolution...'

Source Link Link to Main Source https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/9665/statement-by-the-high-representativevice-president-federica-mogherini-on-an-agreement-by-the-international-syria-support-group-co-chairs_en
Related Links
ESO: Background information: No going back: Why decentralisation is the future for Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/no-going-back-why-decentralisation-is-the-future-for-syria/
BBC News, 10.09.16: Syria conflict: Deadly air strike on market as truce hopes rise http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37328945
The Guardian, 10.09.16: Syria: fragile US-Russia ceasefire deal divides warring factions https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/10/free-syria-army-rejects-us-russia-ceasefire-agreement
Deutsche Welle, 11.09.16: Airstrikes leave scores dead ahead of Syria ceasefire http://dw.com/p/1Jzwe
Euro|Topics: Debates, September 2016: Can Russia and the US bring peace to Syria? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/165933/can-russia-and-the-us-bring-peace-to-syria
Sputnik International: Tag: Syrian Ceasefire https://sputniknews.com/tags/keyword_Syrian_ceasefire/
The Guardian, 20.09.16: US blames Russia after UN aid convoy in Syria targeted by airstrike https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/19/syria-ceasefire-is-over-says-countrys-military
UN: News Centre, 19.09.16: Syria: UN relief chief 'disappointed' that aid workers still unable to safely access eastern Aleppo http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=54947#.V-DYNTUYPU0
US: State Department: Briefing, 19.09.16: Background Briefing on Syria http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/09/262149.htm
Deutsche Welle, 17.09.16: US-led coalition bombs Syrian army positions http://dw.com/p/1K4Ie
Deutsche Welle, 19.09.16: Aid convoys targeted in Syria airstrikes as ceasefire collapses http://dw.com/p/1K57i
EU: EEAS: Statement, 16.09.16: Joint statement on Syria http://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/9965/joint-statement-on-syria_en
EU: EEAS: Statement, 20.09.16: Joint statement by Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Christos Stylianides on air strikes against UN/Syrian Red Crescent humanitarian aid convoy in Syria https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/syria/10101/joint-statement-by-federica-mogherini-and-commissioner-christos-stylianides-on-air-strikes-against-unsyrian-red-crescent-humanitarian-aid-convoy-in-syria_en
US: State Department: Press Release, 20.09.16: Meeting of the International Syria Support Group http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/09/262183.htm
Sputnik International, 21.09.16: White House Puts Blame on Moscow for Attack on Aid Convoy https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160921/1045528247/white-house-blames-russia-convoy.html
Euro|Topics: Debates, September 2016: Outrage after attack on UN aid convoy http://www.eurotopics.net/en/166505/outrage-after-attack-on-un-aid-convoy
EU: EEAS: News, 21.09.16: Federica Mogherini underscores need for progress on Syria crisis https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/syria/10176/federica-mogherini-underscores-need-for-progress-on-syria-crisis_en
EU: EEAS: News, 24.09.16: Joint Statement on the situation in Aleppo http://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/10414/joint-statement-on-the-situation-in-aleppo_en
EurActiv, 26.09.16: US, European allies call on Russia to save Syria truce http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/us-european-allies-say-russia-must-save-syria-truce/
EU: EEAS: News, 25.09.16: Joint Statement on Syria http://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/10431/joint-statement-on-syria_en
Euro|Topics: Debates, September 2016: Has Syria diplomacy failed? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/166741/has-syria-diplomacy-failed
Euro|Topics: Debates, September 2016: No sign of end to horrors in Syria http://www.eurotopics.net/en/166741/no-sign-of-end-to-horrors-in-syria

Countries / Regions ,