UPDATE - EU to 'increase diplomatic presence' in post-Assad Syria, says European Council head

CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK; ADDS DETAILS

By Nur Asena Erturk

The EU will step up its diplomatic presence in post-Assad Syria, the president of the European Council has said.

The EU is “already engaging with actors on the ground, the new authorities, and other regional actors,” and “will increase its diplomatic presence in (the capital) Damascus,” Antonio Costa told a Thursday news conference after an EU Council meeting in Brussels.

Stressing the bloc’s objective to “preserve Syria’s territorial integrity (and) ensure respect for human rights,” he said the EU is delivering much-needed humanitarian assistance inside Syria.”

At the same news conference, Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission president, said Europe “will do its part to support Syria at this critical juncture,” as it moves from 13 years of civil war to a new, and different, administration.

“Europe cares about the power going back to the people of Syria. Europe has a role to play,” she said, reiterating that the EU delegation in Damascus will also reopen.

The EU is already Syria's biggest donor and topped its “humanitarian aid to more than €160 million for this year alone,” she said. “And now we are looking … to continue to support the people in Syria, with a focus on early recovery and reconstruction.”

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.

- EU aspires to ‘inclusive’ political process in Syria

In the conclusion declaration of the summit, the EU Council stressed “the historic opportunity to reunite and rebuild the country,” and underlined “the importance of an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.”

It highlighted the importance of respecting “Syria’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity… in accordance with international law.”

“The European Council also emphasises the importance of the fight against terrorism, of the prevention of re-emergence of terrorist groups, and of the destruction of Syria’s remaining chemical weapons stockpiles,” the declaration read.