Let humanitarian aid reach the Syrian people, urge MEPs
All parties to the conflict in Syria should ensure humanitarian aid access throughout the country and cease bombing civilians, urge MEPs. Those responsible for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law should "sooner or later" face justice, they add in a resolution voted on Thursday.
Bombing and indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian facilities should immediately cease, urge MEPs in a resolution approved by 506 votes to 77, with 42 abstentions.
The deliberate starvation of populations breaches international humanitarian law, say MEPs urging all parties to the Syrian war to ensure humanitarian aid access throughout the country and allow medical evacuations from east Aleppo and all other besieged areas immediately. "The Syrian regime has the primary responsibility for the protection of the Syrian population", they add.
MEPs strongly condemn the atrocities committed by the Assad regime, Daesh, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham/Al-Nusra and other terrorist organisations, which can be considered as serious war crimes and crimes against humanity. Those committing them should face justice "sooner or later" as "there can be neither effective conflict resolution nor sustainable peace in Syria without accountability for the crimes committed", they add.
Russia and China are blocking any progress on Syria’s accountability by vetoing any Security Council resolution that would give the Court a mandate to investigate the horrific crimes committed during the conflict in Syria, say MEPs.
Step up negotiations for a political solution
To find a stable truce and a lasting political settlement in Syria, all parties to the conflict, as well as the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) should resume and intensify political negotiations as soon as possible, urge MEPs.
The resolution also calls on EU institutions and member states to provide full support to the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in order to continue investigating the use and the destruction of chemical weapons by all sides in Syria.
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Procedure: Non-binding resolution