Strasbourg, 24 April 2017
Statement by ALDE-PACE
ALDE-PACE reiterates its strong commitment to the respect of human rights and its condemnation of the hideous crimes perpetrated by the Assad regime, as well as the actions of those who support this regime for geopolitical reasons and make Syrian people pay the price with their lives.
We are dismayed by the attempts of the Russian media to present the 20-21 March 2017 visit of European politicians (including three high-ranking PACE members) to Syria as a sign of support to the Assad regime and to the Russian policy in the Middle East. It is clear to us that such an initiative could not contribute to a solution to the conflict devastating the country.
The ALDE-PACE resolutely condemns and strongly deplores the visit of the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Pedro Agramunt to Syria. We also condemn and strongly deplore the participation in this visit of two ALDE members – the Chair of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights Alain Destexhe and the President of our political group Jordi Xuclà. The meeting with Bashar al-Assad which took place during this visit raises particular concerns. We find it absolutely necessary that the PACE President consult the Bureau and seeks its approval before undertaking such actions that directly or indirectly involve our Assembly.
