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EU to press Putin on Syria at summit | EU to press Putin on Syria at summit |
(about 3 hours later) | |
EU officials are expected to press Russian President Vladimir Putin to take a stronger line on the crisis in Syria during a summit in St Petersburg. | |
EU member states want Russia to put pressure on its ally to withdraw heavy weapons from cities and comply fully with UN envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan. | |
Russia and China are also resisting US and European calls to condemn President Bashar al-Assad and seek his removal. | |
On Sunday, Mr Assad denied his forces had any role in the Houla massacre. | On Sunday, Mr Assad denied his forces had any role in the Houla massacre. |
In a televised address, President Assad told parliament the killing of more than 108 people in their homes, including 49 children, was an "ugly crime" that even "monsters" would not carry out. | |
Witnesses have blamed pro-government militiamen for the massacre, which has triggered international condemnation and led to several countries expelling Syrian diplomats in protest. | |
Mr Assad said the only way to resolve the crisis was through political dialogue, and that "foreign meddling" was to blame for Syria's divisions. | |
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton are among those attending Monday's summit. | European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton are among those attending Monday's summit. |
On Sunday, Mr Putin invited the EU leaders for dinner ahead of the talks at a lavish estate on the outskirts of the city. | |
European diplomats regard the meeting as a chance to renew ties with Mr Putin since his return to the presidency earlier this month. | |
The leaders are also expected to discuss trade and Iran's controversial nuclear programme. Russia will also be looking to speed up moves towards visa free travel in Europe. | The leaders are also expected to discuss trade and Iran's controversial nuclear programme. Russia will also be looking to speed up moves towards visa free travel in Europe. |
But correspondents say Syria is likely to dominate the agenda. | But correspondents say Syria is likely to dominate the agenda. |
Political transition | |
"We need to make sure that Russia is using fully its leverage in convincing the [Assad] regime to implement [the peace plan]," an EU official quoted by the Reuters news agency said. | |
"The Russian side has certainly not been very helpful in finding solutions in terms of a political way out." | "The Russian side has certainly not been very helpful in finding solutions in terms of a political way out." |
Moscow insists it is not protecting Mr Assad but says his removal cannot be a precondition for political dialogue. | Moscow insists it is not protecting Mr Assad but says his removal cannot be a precondition for political dialogue. |
Baroness Ashton, who met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before Sunday's dinner, said in a statement: "Russia's role is crucial for the success of Annan's plan." | Baroness Ashton, who met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov before Sunday's dinner, said in a statement: "Russia's role is crucial for the success of Annan's plan." |
She said the EU wanted to "work closely with Russia to find a way to end the violence". | She said the EU wanted to "work closely with Russia to find a way to end the violence". |
The statement added that Baroness Ashton had spoken to Mr Annan by telephone on Sunday and they had agreed that the crisis was at "a critical point". | |
Analysts say pressure is growing on Moscow to concede that the initiative is stalled and to promote a compromise in which President Assad stands down to allow a transition of power. | |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday that she had "made it very clear" to Mr Lavrov in a telephone conversation that the focus was shifting to a political transition. | |
"Assad's departure does not have to be a precondition, but it should be an outcome so the people of Syria have a chance to express themselves," she said during a visit to Stockholm. | |
The BBC's Steven Rosenberg in Moscow says that although the summit is not expected to produce any major breakthrough in relations between Russia and the EU, it is still important. | |
EU leaders will be able to reacquainted themselves with Vladimir Putin and it is also a chance to gauge what kind of relationship Moscow and Brussels are likely to have during his six-year presidency, our correspondent adds. | EU leaders will be able to reacquainted themselves with Vladimir Putin and it is also a chance to gauge what kind of relationship Moscow and Brussels are likely to have during his six-year presidency, our correspondent adds. |