VILNIUS—European Union foreign ministers said on Saturday there appeared to be "strong evidence" that Syria's government was behind the alleged use of chemical weapons against rebels and urged a "clear and strong" response.
However, the ministers said they hoped that United Nations inspectors sent to investigate last month's attack would be allowed to present their report before any action was taken.
The group's statement, which came at the end of a two-day meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, followed discussions with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who met with the ministers Saturday morning.
Mr. Kerry said at a news conference that he was "very grateful" for the group's statement on the "need for accountability" in Syria. France and Denmark are among the EU governments who say they could join U.S. led strikes.
Zuma Press NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks during the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, Saturday.
The EU statement, the bloc's strongest since the alleged chemical attack, could prove a boost for the Obama administration as it seeks to show the U.S. has international backing for action against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Still, there was no explicit support for the idea of military strikes in the EU's statement.
"We were unanimous in condemning in the strongest terms this horrific attack. Information from a wide variety of sources confirms the existence of such an attack and seems to indicate strong evidence that the Syrian regime is responsible for this attack," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said.
"In the face of this cynical use of chemical weapons, the international community cannot remain idle. A clear and strong response is crucial to make clear that such crimes are unacceptable and that there will be no impunity."
After Saturday's meeting, Germany's foreign minister confirmed that his government would sign a U.S.-backed statement that came out of this week's Group of 20 leaders meeting calling for a "strong international response" to the attack. Only 11 countries signed the statement when it was published at the St. Petersburg, Russia, meeting on Friday.
"After we saw this excellent and very wise position of the European Union the chancellor and myself, we decided of course that we support now the G20 statement," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said after the meeting.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said it was "very important" that Germany now backed the St. Petersburg statement, allowing the EU to stand united on Syria.
Until Saturday, the EU had struggled for a common stance on Syria, with some backing a military response to the chemical-weapons attack and others warning such action could make a political solution to the crisis impossible.
"The question we must ask ourselves is what should we do in Syria which is in the interests of the Syrian people," said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn on Friday. "Is this truly in the interest of the Syrian people to want to carry out military strikes to punish Bashar al-Assad. I think not."
Many of the bloc's ministers also stressed Friday that amid counterclaims about who was responsible for the chemical attack by the Assad regime, Iran and Russia, it was crucial to wait and see what the UN inspectors say.
"They will give a far more complete picture…and that I think is very important for building international credibility for whatever happens," said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.
The Obama administration has said military action is justified in response to a chemical-weapons attack it says killed more than 1,400 people. The administration has asked Congress to approve a bill authorizing military force.
According to the UN, around 100,000 people have died since the Syrian conflict erupted in the spring of 2011. The foreign ministers underlined that whatever happens in the coming days, the only true solution to a crisis that has deeply divided the international community is a political one.
While the U.K., U.S. and France have pushed to pressure the Assad regime at the UN Security Council, Russia and China have repeatedly blocked such measures.
"An encompassing diplomatic process leading to a political solution is now more urgent than ever. The initiative for a 'Geneva II' peace conference must move ahead swiftly," the foreign ministers said. The group also said those guilty of the chemical weapons attack should be held accountable in the International Criminal Court.
However, the ministers said they hoped that United Nations inspectors sent to investigate last month's attack would be allowed to present their report before any action was taken.
The group's statement, which came at the end of a two-day meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, followed discussions with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who met with the ministers Saturday morning.
Mr. Kerry said at a news conference that he was "very grateful" for the group's statement on the "need for accountability" in Syria. France and Denmark are among the EU governments who say they could join U.S. led strikes.
Zuma Press NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks during the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, Saturday.
The EU statement, the bloc's strongest since the alleged chemical attack, could prove a boost for the Obama administration as it seeks to show the U.S. has international backing for action against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Still, there was no explicit support for the idea of military strikes in the EU's statement.
"We were unanimous in condemning in the strongest terms this horrific attack. Information from a wide variety of sources confirms the existence of such an attack and seems to indicate strong evidence that the Syrian regime is responsible for this attack," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said.
"In the face of this cynical use of chemical weapons, the international community cannot remain idle. A clear and strong response is crucial to make clear that such crimes are unacceptable and that there will be no impunity."
After Saturday's meeting, Germany's foreign minister confirmed that his government would sign a U.S.-backed statement that came out of this week's Group of 20 leaders meeting calling for a "strong international response" to the attack. Only 11 countries signed the statement when it was published at the St. Petersburg, Russia, meeting on Friday.
"After we saw this excellent and very wise position of the European Union the chancellor and myself, we decided of course that we support now the G20 statement," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said after the meeting.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said it was "very important" that Germany now backed the St. Petersburg statement, allowing the EU to stand united on Syria.
Until Saturday, the EU had struggled for a common stance on Syria, with some backing a military response to the chemical-weapons attack and others warning such action could make a political solution to the crisis impossible.
"The question we must ask ourselves is what should we do in Syria which is in the interests of the Syrian people," said Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn on Friday. "Is this truly in the interest of the Syrian people to want to carry out military strikes to punish Bashar al-Assad. I think not."
Many of the bloc's ministers also stressed Friday that amid counterclaims about who was responsible for the chemical attack by the Assad regime, Iran and Russia, it was crucial to wait and see what the UN inspectors say.
"They will give a far more complete picture…and that I think is very important for building international credibility for whatever happens," said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.
The Obama administration has said military action is justified in response to a chemical-weapons attack it says killed more than 1,400 people. The administration has asked Congress to approve a bill authorizing military force.
According to the UN, around 100,000 people have died since the Syrian conflict erupted in the spring of 2011. The foreign ministers underlined that whatever happens in the coming days, the only true solution to a crisis that has deeply divided the international community is a political one.
While the U.K., U.S. and France have pushed to pressure the Assad regime at the UN Security Council, Russia and China have repeatedly blocked such measures.
"An encompassing diplomatic process leading to a political solution is now more urgent than ever. The initiative for a 'Geneva II' peace conference must move ahead swiftly," the foreign ministers said. The group also said those guilty of the chemical weapons attack should be held accountable in the International Criminal Court.