EU stresses need to address Syrian crisis ‘through the UN process’

Report of a statement on the situation in Syria from EU Foreign Ministers after the informal two-day Gymnich meeting in Vilnius, 6-7 September 2013.

EurActiv reported that the European Union blamed the Syrian government for the chemical weapons attack on civilians in August 2013 but urged leaders to wait for a report from UN weapons inspectors before backing any US-led military response, leaving France as America’s only ally in Europe.

Separately, EUObserver reported that US Secretary of State John Kerry and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius rejected on the 7 September 2013 comparisons between Syria and Iraq in a bid to win public support for military strikes.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Putin warns US, France against Syria action http://www.europeansources.info/record/putin-warns-us-france-against-syria-action/

EU: EEAS: Press Relations, 07.09.13: Remarks by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, following the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, Vilnius, 7 September 2013 http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2013/130907_01_en.pdf

Lithuania: EU Presidency: News, 07.09.13: Statement from HR Ashton reflecting the agreed position of the European Union – all 28 member states http://www.eu2013.lt/en/news/statements/statement-from-hr-ashton-reflecting-the-agreed-position-of-the-european-unionall-28-member-states

France24, 07.09.13: EU says Syria gas attack appears to point to Assad http://www.france24.com/en/20130907-syria-eu-chemical-attack-assad-kerry-europe-ashton

EUObserver, 09.09.13: France and US say Syria is not Iraq http://euobserver.com/foreign/121364

France24, 08.09.13: Kerry woos sceptical French over Syria strikes http://www.france24.com/en/20130908-syria-france-kerry-charm-offensive-%20french-fabius-hollande

Spiegel Online International, 09.09.13: World from Berlin: Germany's 'Cowardly Position' on Syria http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/german-press-berlin-foreign-policy-in-syria-embarrassing-a-921238.html

EurActiv, 13.09.13: MEPs demand UN-backed response to Syria’s chemical weapons http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/meps-demand-un-backed-response-s-news-530435

ESO: Background information: Speech by HRVP Catherine Ashton on Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-by-hrvp-catherine-ashton-on-syria/

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