AN EU-RUSSIA SUMMIT has heard that Moscow and the European Union need to overcome their differences to ensure that the situation in Syria improves.
European Council president Herman Van Rompuy said that combined efforts were needed to stop the violence and a “common message” should be found after talks got underway at the Konstantinovsky Palace today.
“We need to walk towards an immediate stop of all forms of violence in Syria and towards a process of political transition.”
Both Van Rompuy and EU Commission chief José Manual Barroso were expected to press Vladimir Putin on his stance towards Syria and its president Bashar Assad. Russia has been widely criticised for providing support to Damascus since the Arab Spring movement saw pro-democracy protesters call for the end to the current regime last March.
During the press conference after this morning’s talks, Putin simply said that the country’s position will not “coincide” with the EU on every issue.
Moscow has so far protected Damascus from outside intervention with the use of its veto power at UN Security Council level. However, Putin has said that Russia strongly backs Kofi Annan’s peace process, reports The Guardian.
Putin tried to focus on EU relations today, rather than the violence in Syria. He said that Europe should ditch the stereotypes it may hold about Russia.
He called once more for visa-free travel for Russians to the EU.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Syria, Al Jazeera has heard reports of armed rebels clashed with government forces this morning in the northwest of the country. It is understood that four people have died.
Thousands have died in the 15-month period of unrest with the violence spilling over into neighbouring Lebanon over the weekend.
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