Yahoo Finance EU says there’s ‘no military solution’ to Syria conflict after UK vows ‘action’ against Assad
The European Union has said there can be no military solution to the conflict in Syria as the Prime Minister mulls her response to a suspected chemical weapons attack.
A senior EU official called for a “political solution” as a coalition of countries, including the UK, considers whether to launch air strikes in response to last weekend’s attack on the rebel-held City of Douma, which killed dozens of civilians.
Theresa May last night won support from the Cabinet to “take action” alongside the US and France to “deter the further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime.”
A Downing Street statement issued after the meeting made no mention of military action.
But the BBC reported that Mrs May could give the go-ahead for military action without first seeking permission of Parliament – a move opposed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
US President Donald Trump said he will take a decision on action “fairly soon” and French President Emmanuel Macron said any response will happen “when we judge it most useful and effective.”
Mr Macron told French TV yesterday that he has “proof” the Russian-backed forced of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were behind the attack.
And he said: “We cannot allow regimes that believe they can act with impunity to violate international law in the worst possible way.”
There will not though be unanimous support for military action when EU foreign ministers, including Boris Johnson, discuss a response to the crisis at a summit in Luxembourg on Monday.
Speaking at a pre-summit briefing, a senior EU official would not pre-empt the outcome of any discussions about immediate military action.
But, addressing the conflict generally, they said: “A military solution is not possible. You need a political solution.
“Only a political solution can bring a lasting peace and stability in Syria and we keep on calling for that.”
Germany’s Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, took the same position when he spoke at a separate press conference in Brussels today.
Mr Maas, who discussed the situation in Syria with Boris Johnson yesterday, said: “The repeated use of chemical weapons cannot be left unanswered.”
But he added: “The conflict in Syria will have to be resolved by a political solution.”
Italy also today ruled itself out of joining military action.
Paulo Gentiloni, the country’s caretaker Prime Minister, said in a statement: “Italy will not participate in Syrian military actions.
“Based on current international and bilateral accords, Italy will continue to offer logistical support to allied forces.”
Representatives of 85 countries and organisations will meet at a UN-chaired conference in Brussels next week in a bid to take forward the political solution the EU is seeking.
