JERUSALEM: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warns of consequences of Syrian crisis.

Record ID: 281077

  • Title: JERUSALEM: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warns of consequences of Syrian crisis.
  • Date: 9th July 2012
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JULY 9, 2012) (REUTERS) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JOSE MANUEL BARROSO ADDRESSING OFFICIALS AHEAD OF DINNER HOSTED BY ISRAELI PRESIDENT SHIMON PERES AT THE KING DAVID HOTEL (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JOSE MANUEL BARROSO SAYING: "With the continuing slaughter in Syria, we are reminded that change will not be easy. Indeed, many are pay
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jerusalem
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB9NR2V8QJ2P5IJFP7G1GS4LR3
  • Story Text: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned of consequences from ongoing violence in Syria on Monday (July 9), as he met with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem.
    Barroso, on a three-day visit to the region, met the Peres after holding meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leaders, in which he reiterated the EU's commitment to a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
    During an official dinner hosted by Peres at the King David hotel in Jerusalem, Barroso described the situation in Syria as "slaughter."

    "With the continuing slaughter in Syria, we are reminded that change will not be easy. Indeed, many are paying the ultimate price in their struggle for freedom. This is why we'll do everything we can to support countries in transition. We will be affected by these changes. And we cannot afford to be bystanders. I know it is difficult but we have to make a bet on democracy," Barroso said.
    Activists, who keep lists of names and dates of death, and Western governments say more than 15,000 people have been killed by forces loyal to the Syrian government, the great majority of them people who opposed the government and their innocent families. Syria says more than 2,600 members of the security forces have been killed.
    Barroso also referred to Iran's nuclear program, and reiterated the EU's commitment to Israel's security.

    "I reiterate the European Union's fundamental commitment to Israel's security. That is precisely the reason why, for instance, we took such a principal position regarding the threat that iran represents, not only for Israel but for the region and indeed for the world if Iran does not give up on its programme for nuclear military capabilities," he said.
    Tensions between the West and Iran have increased since high-level negotiations foundered in Moscow in June, with Tehran saying it had successfully tested medium-range missiles capable of hitting Israel as a response to threats of attack.
    Earlier on Monday, Peres met Barroso at his residence in Jerusalem and condemned the Syrian regime's violence.

    "The terrible, brutal response of Assad, the President, nobody can stand it. To see every day tens of people, among them children, being killed in cold blood. I mean, borders can be geographic, but they cannot be moral. Morality doesn't have borders. And if you see a child being killed, you don't know any borders but to stand against it," Peres said.
    A written statement by the European Commission described Barroso's visit as an opportunity to "express the EU's long-standing commitment" to a negotiated solution for the Middle East Peace Process that guarantees a "just and lasting settlement of the conflict".
    The visit was aimed to allow Barroso to discuss latest changes in the Arab world and regional matters with both Palestinian and Israeli leaders, the statement added.
    END
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