European Council Condemns Attack on Mar Elias Church and Calls for Accountability of Perpetrators

The European Union Council expressed its condemnation of the terrorist bombing that targeted Mar Elias Church in the capital Damascus, calling on the Syrian government to hold the perpetrators accountable.

This came in a statement of the European Council's conclusions on the Middle East, following a meeting of EU leaders yesterday, Thursday, during which they discussed the geopolitical challenges and ongoing developments in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Regarding Syria, the European Council welcomed the lifting of economic sanctions on Syria, "within the framework of the EU's gradual and reversible approach".

It emphasized the importance of "peaceful and comprehensive transition in Syria, away from any harmful foreign intervention, protecting the rights of Syrians, regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds, without discrimination, in addition to transitional justice and reconciliation".

The European Council in its statement underscored the importance of "respecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Syria fully within safe borders, in accordance with international law".