GERMANY: Syria's referendum on constitutional changes is a 'farce' and has nothing to do with democracy, Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle says in Berlin

Record ID: 280298

  • Title: GERMANY: Syria's referendum on constitutional changes is a 'farce' and has nothing to do with democracy, Germany's Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle says in Berlin
  • Date: 28th February 2012
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (FEBRUARY 27, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF FREE DEMOCRATS (FDP) PARTY HEADQUARTERS GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER GUIDO WESTERWELLE ARRIVING FOR WEEKLY ROUTINE PARTY MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER, GUIDO WESTERWELLE, SAYING: "Yesterday's referendum is a farce. It was a sham vote which has nothing to do with democracy. Violence cont
  • Embargoed: 14th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany, Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1DHVH3575QWNWO8HHYC4JLAML
  • Story Text: Germany on Monday (February 27) condemned as "farce" a referendum in Syria over the weekend aimed at changing the constitution.
    "Yesterday's referendum is a farce. It was a sham vote which has nothing to do with democracy," Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told reporters ahead of a weekly routine party meeting of his Free Democrats (FDP).
    "Violence continues and that's why it is right that we in Europe will vote for new, stricter sanctions against the Syrian regime today," Westerwelle said.
    Syria is expected to announce a vote of approval for constitutional changes on Monday when it announces the result of the referendum dismissed as a sham by opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.
    At least 59 Syrian civilians and soldiers were killed in the country's bitter political violence on Sunday, the day of the vote on a new constitution that could keep Assad in power until 2028. The result is viewed as a foregone conclusion.
    Westerwelle also called on Greece to continue the path Athens and the EU had together agreed on.
    "This will be all the more difficult if we question what we agreed on together," Westerwelle added, hours before the German parliament was expected to endorse a second Greek bailout package.
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