Schulz on Syria: condemn new surge in violence despite the ceasefire and welcome UN Resolution

On behalf of the European Parliament, I strongly condemn the new surge in violence in Homs and Aleppo today, despite the ceasefire", said the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz on the situation in Syria.

"We welcome the UN Resolution, the first one adopted unanimously by the Security Council, authorising the deployment of an international observation mission on the ground. This resolution proves that the international community is united and speaks with one voice, calling on the regime to keep its ceasefire commitments and immediately put an end to violence against its population.

Following this unequivocal message, the Syrian authorities must now pull back their military presence from the cities, and cooperate with the UN Observers' mission, in line with the Kofi Annan peace plan".