EU: No military solution’ to Syria conflict

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said that the Syrian conflict could only be solved politically, not militarily, in Strasbourg on Tuesday.

“Now more than ever it is clear that the only sustainable, only pragmatic, only possible solution to the war in Syria is a political solution. After seven years there should be no doubt about this,” she said.

“We have no doubt about this, that there is no military solution to the war, the only way to end this conflict is through the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva between the Syrian parties under the leadership of the United Nations,” Mogherini added.

“Without meaningful UN-led political talks it’s only a matter of time before the next military escalation comes. The risk of splitting the country in zones of influence is increasing by the day,” she warned.

Several members of the European Parliament criticised the recent US, UK and French airstrikes on Syrian state targets.

“They didn’t consult anybody at all not even their parliament, they didn’t inform anybody and they made the UN secretary general look ridiculous,” said Marisa Matias, European Parliament Member for Confederal Group of the European United Left.