Prime Minister's call with President Hollande regarding Syria
Leaders agreed that the brutality of the Damascus regime is a threat to regional security and those responsible must be held accountable.
A Downing St spokesperson has given a read-out of Prime Minister David Cameron’s call with President Hollande on the situation in Syria.
The spokesperson said:
Following the unanimous condemnation by the UN Security Council of the massacre in Houla committed by the regime in Damascus, the Prime Minister today spoke to the President of the French Republic, Francois Hollande.
The Houla massacre and the events of recent days in Syria and Lebanon illustrate, once again, the danger posed to the Syrian people by the actions of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Faced with this unacceptable situation and the regime’s contempt for the ceasefire, the Prime Minister and President agreed to act together to increase the pressure of the international community on Assad and to bring an end to the bloody suppression of the Syrian people who aspire to freedom and democracy. They reaffirmed their full support for the mission of UN and Arab League Special Joint Envoy, Mr. Kofi Annan, and the effective implementation of its peace plan for Syria. Annan must have the means necessary to carry out the mission entrusted to him in very difficult conditions and the regime in Damascus must immediately co-operate fully with him.
The senseless murderous brutality of the Damascus regime is a threat to regional security and those responsible must be held accountable for their actions. It is in the interest of everyone to put in place an orderly democratic transition that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people. The UN Security Council must remain actively engaged and support the mission of Mr. Annan.
In this regard, the Prime Minister and the President agreed that the Friends of Syria group should meet in Paris. They also expressed their desire to work with Russia to find a resolution to the Syrian crisis.
Background
The Foreign Secretary has been in Russia today discussing the situation with Lavrov and Hollande will meet Putin in Paris on 1 June 2012.
There will be a further discussion of Syria at the UN Security Council on Tuesday 29th May 2012 and Kofi Annan is expected to brief the UNSC on Wednesday 30th May 2012 following his visit to Damascus.