Arab and European foreign ministers urged on Tuesday intra-Syria talks as basis for political settlement and strongly condemned Syrian regime's recent attacks on Aleppo, the Arab League (AL) and the European Union (EU) stated following their fourth ministerial meeting in Cairo, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
"The ministers stressed that intra-Syria talks are the only way for a credible and genuine political transition based on power sharing as well as lasting peace," the two bodies said in a declaration issued after the meeting held at the AL headquarters in the Egyptian capital city.
The declaration "strongly condemned the deliberate and indiscriminate attack on eastern Aleppo by the regime and its allies, and the targeting of civilians and humanitarian infrastructure."
The fighting and bombardment in Syria have recently escalated in war-torn Aleppo city, where the army of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad supported by Russian forces launched massive attacks to clear the city of militants, leaving dozens of civilians killed and hundreds displaced and taking control of the ruined rebel-held city.
In his opening remarks, AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit warned that Syria "has become a theater for international polarizations and regional ambitions all at the expense of the Syrian people who suffer one of the gravest humanitarian crises."
He said that a political settlement is "the only possible solution for this crisis," urging the United Nations Security Council to bear its responsibility to restore peace in Syria and the EU to use its political weight to put an end to the crisis.
For her part, EU High Representative and Vice-President Frederica Mogherini said that "what happens in Syria, in Libya or even in Yemen has a direct impact on Europe," stressing the EU is an "essential partner" for growth, peace and security in the Arab world.
"Peace cannot be built on violence against civilians, on the repeated violations of humanitarian law, on the entire cities turned into ruins," said Mogherini in her statement at the joint meeting, referring to Syria's Aleppo.
Since it erupted in March 2011, the Syrian crisis has claimed the lives of about half a million people and displaced more than 10 million.
With regards to the Middle East peace process and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the AL-EU declaration stated that the two-state solution is "the only way to achieve an enduring peace, and to that end the international community should work with all relevant stakeholders to end the Israeli occupation that began in 1967."
The Arab and European foreign ministers reaffirmed the need for "lasting and comprehensive peace" in the Middle East region, in line with relevant UNSC resolutions as well as the land for peace principle, highlighting the importance of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Libya and Yemen, welcoming Lebanon's election of a new president and formation of a new national unity government. They also discussed the situation in Iraq, Sudan and Somalia.
As for Yemen, the ministers called for "immediate and permanent ceasefire" as the first step to resume an inclusive political process, rejecting the Houthi group's unilateral formation of a so-called "national salvation government" in Sanaa.
The concluding declaration vowed continuous strategic cooperation and dialogue and welcomed the suggestion of holding a regular Euro-Arab summit to strengthen their relations and give strategic guidance to their cooperation. -- Bernama
Bernama
Wed Dec 21 2016
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini (L) talks to Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit during a meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo, on December 20, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER
[TERKINI] UM mohon maaf, ambil tindakan segera tangani situasi
Universiti Malaya kesal dengan kenyataan kontroversi penceramah jemputan warga asing yang tidak menghormati sentimen masyarakat seperti tular dalam laman media sosial.
Malaysia-Jepun tekad perkukuh kerjasama dalam sektor pembinaan
Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi berkata perjanjian persefahaman dapat membuka peluang kepada pemain sektor pembinaan Malaysia meneroka pasaran Jepun selaras dengan pelaksanaan Perjanjian Komprehensif dan Progresif bagi Perkongsian Trans-Pasifik (CPTPP) dengan kedua-dua negara adalah ahlinya.
Hati-hati akaun fleksibel, guna sewaktu persaraan - Pakar
Pencarum seharusnya lebih berhati-hati dan merancangan kewangan dengan lebih baik susulan pengenalan akuan fleksibel Kwsp yang baharu.
Panel lima hakim Mahkamah Rayuan akan dengar permohonan Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin memohon bagi mendapatkan kebenaran menyemak keputusan panel sebelum ini yang mengembalikan semula empat pertuduhan salah guna kuasa membabitkan RM232.5 juta terhadapnya.
Dua maut kereta terbabas dan terbalik di Kuala Krai
Seorang lelaki dan wanita maut dalam kemalangan membabitkan sebuah kereta jenis Honda di Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai dekat Kampung Pahi, pada Rabu.
MCMC kesan individu salah guna AI, sunting gambar aib - Fahmi
Langkah itu bertujuan membolehkan tindakan tegas diambil serta memastikan keselamatan pengguna dalam talian khususnya kanak-kanak, terjamin.
[TERKINI] Mahkamah: Suspek tembak KLIA dituduh cuba bunuh isteri
Lelaki yang melepaskan tembakan di Balai Ketibaan Terminal 1 Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) didakwa lagi hari ini di Mahkamah Sesyen di sini atas dua pertuduhan termasuk cuba membunuh isterinya.
[TERKINI] Reman terhadap anak seorang MB disambung sehari lagi
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) memperoleh tempoh lanjutan tahanan reman terhadap anak Menteri Besar dan empat lagi suspek bagi membantu siasatan pemalsuan dokumen dalam membuat tuntutan palsu berjumlah RM600,000.
AWANI Ringkas: Akaun 3 KWSP diumum
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Barcelona: Xavi buat pusingan-U
Khabar angin bertiup bahawa pengurus Barcelona, Xavi, akan meneruskan peranannya pada musim depan selepas mengubah fikirannya.
'Selamatkan saya dan adik, saya rela jadi hamba awak' - Mangsa gempa Syria
Ungkapan kanak-kanak itu dapat perhatian warganet bahawasanya kedua-dua mereka mungkin beranggapan runtuhan rumah itu berikutan serangan.
Satu dekad konflik kemanusiaan Syria - Ibrah dan refleksi
Satu dekad berlalu dan konflik kemanusian masih berlanjutan di Syria.
Rawat COVID-19 lebih trauma berbanding mangsa letupan bom Syria - Doktor zon perang
Dr David Nott dari England menyifatkan situasi berdepan krisis pandemik ini lebih getir jika dibandingkan dengan insiden pengeboman seperti di bandar Aleppo, Syria.
34 askar Turki maut, serangan udara di Idlib, Syria
Serangan udara Rusia dan Syria yang menyasarkan kawasan di antara bandar Bara dan Bilion di pedalaman Idlib, mengorbankan 34 askar Turki, dipercayai lebih ramai lagi maut.
Lembaran baharu buat si kecil berkaki 'tin'
Maya Merhi yang berusia lapan tahun, dilahirkan tanpa sepasang kaki terpaksa menggunakan tin untuk membantunya bergerak.
Derita Ghouta lebih buruk dari Aleppo, semua bantuan kemanusiaan disekat - PBB
Setiausaha Agong Majlis Pelarian Norway Jan Egeland berkata peningkatan ketegangan di Syria terutama wilayah Damsyik adalah yang terburuk sejak konflik di negara itu bermula pada 2014.
Tentera pakatan Syria-Rusia burukkan keadaan di Idlib dan Hama - PBB
Ketegangan yang memuncak di beberapa wilayah di Syria kini memaksa lebih 270,000 warga Syria menjadi pelarian di dua wilayah.
Amaran gempur oleh Erdogan boleh jejas inisiatif rundingan damai - SNC
Menurut Nasr Al Hariri, sebagai penaja rundingan damai Syria, Erdogan tidak sepatutnya mengeluarkan kenyataan terhadap kumpulan terbabit yang terlibat secara langsung dalam siri rundingan.
Puluhan maut dalam serangan bom terhadap konvoi bas di Aleppo Syria
Puluhan dilaporkan maut selepas satu letupan bom kereta meledak di tengah-tengah konvoi bas yang sedang memasuki bandar Aleppo di Syria hari ini.
Mapim seru bantuan segera ke Aleppo
Situasi kemanusiaan sangat genting di wilayah tersebut pada masa ini dengan jumlah pelarian meningkat kepada 80,000 orang dan amat memerlukan bantuan makanan serta perubatan.