EU says it will recognize any decision by Syrians on country's future

By Azernews

By Kamila Aliyeva

The European Union will recognize any decision about the political future of Syria, which will be approved by all Syrians both inside the country and beyond, the head of EU diplomacy Federica Mogherini said at the EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg, RIA Novosti reported.

The United States and the European Union have consistently demanded Assad stand down in any peace deal. But last week Washington signaled it would no longer focus on Assad's ouster as it concentrates on the fight against terror groups such as Islamic State.

Asked what this meant for EU policy, Mogherini said she believed it "would be impossible" to return to the status quo in Syria.

"After nearly 7 years of war it seems completely unrealistic to believe that the future of Syria can be the same as it used to be in the past, but Syrians are those to decide it, and this is clear," she said adding that “a political agreement on governance, power distribution and transition must be achieved by the Syrians.”

She noted that "any decision that would be acceptable to all Syrians who are in the country and beyond, including the opposition negotiating in Geneva will get our support."

“The decision is to be made by all Syrians," Mogherini concluded.

Mogherini will co-host with the United Nations a two-day conference on Syria's future in Brussels focused on the disastrous humanitarian situation in the country after a war which has claimed more than 320,000 lives and displaced more than half the population.

Armed conflict continues in Syria since March 2011. Government troops are confronted by militants of different armed rebel groups. Russia has begun airstrikes on terrorist facilities in Syria since 30 September 2015. The Russian military involvement follows an official request from President Bashar Assad to President Vladimir Putin.