By Martin Banks - 16th February 2012
The current violence in Syria was totally unacceptable
Villy Sovndal
The EU has again condemned Russia and China for their veto of a UN resolution against Syria.
Speaking in parliament, Danish foreign affairs minister Villy Sovndal described the decision as "very disappointing".
He also told MEPs that the current violence in Syria was "totally unacceptable".
Sovndal said the EU is doing its part by maintaining and increasing sanctions against Syria as long as the violence continues.
Addressing the parliamentary plenary in Strasbourg on Wednesday, he said, "The security council must take on its responsibility. The EU's message to Russia and China is clear: they should not be on the wrong side of history."
In a debate on Syria, he said the EU was "demanding an end to the bloodshed in Syria".
Sovndal, whose country holds the current EU presidency, was speaking on behalf of the EU's high representative for foreign and security policy, Catherine Ashton.
"I welcome the strong leadership role taken by the Arab League in the Syrian crisis. The EU will continue to back the Arab League's efforts to find a solution to the crisis," he said.
He added that the EU will see that the situation in Syria remains high on the agenda of the EU human rights council.
Sovndal said the EU was demanding that "all political detainees in Syria are freed and that tanks and troops are removed from Syrian cities".
His comments come as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad decreed on Thursday that a referendum on the new draft constitution will be held on 26 February.
The document drops the article giving the ruling Baath Party unique status as the "leader of state and society".
The opposition has made clear that it rejects any political moves by the government while there are still violent attacks against protesters
In a separate development, France's foreign minister said it had started negotiating a new UN security council resolution on Syria with Russia.
"We are renegotiating a resolution at the UN security council to persuade the Russians," said Alain Juppe.
He also said France wanted to discuss creating "humanitarian corridors" in Syria to "reach the zones where there are scandalous massacres".
