07.09 EU Ministers Call For
MOSCOW, September 7 (RIA Novosti) EU foreign ministers have called for a clear and firm response to those guilty of using chemical weapons in the conflict in Syria, the EUs top diplomat Catherine Ashton said Saturday at a security policy meeting in Vilnius attended by US Secretary of State John Kerry, Reuters reported.
Kerry expressed his gratitude to the EU ministers for their strong position on Syria, Reuters reported.
But that call came with an appeal from the EU to the United States not to commence military operations against the Syrian regime until the publication of a UN report into the alleged use of chemical weapons in the conflict, The Associated Press reported.
Secretary of State Kerry attended the meeting in a bid to drum up support for US military action, AFP reported. Four EU states - Britain, France, Italy and Spain - had previously signed up Friday to a declaration of support for "strong measures" to be taken by the international community against Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons. Germany said Saturday it had also signed up to the declaration.
