Foreign Secretary commends Arab League efforts on Syria
Foreign Secretary William Hague: "The first step must be to stop the violence and repression, without which all other measures are meaningless."
Commenting on the Arab League鈥檚 announcement that the Syrian government had agreed to the Arab League鈥檚 plan for addressing the situation in Syria, the Foreign Secretary said:
鈥淚 commend the Arab League鈥檚 efforts in pursuing this initiative to stop the violence in Syria.
鈥淎s the Arab League has made clear, it is vital that the plan is implemented quickly and fully. Action should be verifiable and sustained. The first step must be to stop the violence and repression, without which all other measures are meaningless. We continue to believe that President Assad should step aside and allow the Syrian people to realise their aspirations for greater freedom, dignity and a more open political system.鈥�