EU Foreign Policy Chief Says Solution to Syria Impossible Without Russia

Russia and the EU can arrive at a consensus on the Syrian conflict thanks to common interests, according to EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini.

In an interview with the French weekly Le Nouvel Observateur, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Federica Mogherini expressed confidence that the EU and Russia would further cooperate on the Syrian issue.

 According to her, Russia disagrees with the European Union on the role of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government. At the same time, Moscow and Brussels are seeking to find a common solution and to form an alliance against the Islamic State (ISIL), according to the Sputnik News.

“I will not speak for the Russians and their interests. But we managed to conclude an agreement on Iran because we were not afraid to come to the table, having mutual interests, “she said.

As far as Syria is concerned, the EU is first of all interested in Syria’s stability and territorial integrity, according to Mogherini.

Also, she said that the EU wants to see the end of ethnic or religious strife in Syria, which would hopefully become a secular state and which would maintain friendly relations with its immediate neighbors.

“Like the Russians, we are also interested in all this,” she emphasized.

M.Wassouf