EU-ARAB LEAGUE MEETING IN CAIRO DISCUSSES SYRIAN ISSUE

Cairo, 03 Rabiul Awwal 1434/ 15 January 2013 (Anadolu Agency/MINA) – President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy said on Monday it was time for Assad to leave office.

Speaking at a press conference following a tete-a-tete meeting with the Secretary General of the Arab League Nabil al-Araby in Cairo, Rompuy stressed that it was high time for Assad to leave office.

“The bloodshed in Syria must end,” Rompuy underlined.

“We support the joint UN and Arab League Special Envoy on Syria Lakhdar Brahimi and his efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis,” Rompuy noted.

Rompuy reiterated their support to the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces.

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Al-Araby and Rompuy reached a consent whereby efforts to form a new Syrian government without Assad would begin.

Touching on the issue of Mali, Rompuy said that the armed groups in Mali were a reason for concern.

Rompuy called on the government of Mali to take control in the country.

On Palestine and Israel, Rompuy indicated that bold steps had to be taken for peace in the Middle East.

“Palestinian-Israeli talks should resume without any preconditions,” Rompuy also said. (T.R-014/R-006)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)