Ribal Al-Assad, Director of the ODFS, this week met again with Cristina Gutierrez-Cortines MEP and Santiago

Fisas Ayxela MEP from the EPP Group to discuss the ongoing situation in Syria.

The meeting was a part of a series of meetings that Ribal had with senior members of the European Parliament.

Commenting on the meeting, Ribal, said:

“I was delighted to meet with Mrs. Gutierrez-Cortines and Mr. Ayxela again, in our meeting I stressed the need for the E.U. to put it’s full weight behind a peaceful solution to the crisis in Syria.

It is imperative that the E.U., along with the international community, comes together to help Syria to get rid of the Islamists who do not share our universal values and do not want a democracy.

It has been evident for a long time that they seek only to replace a dictatorship with a theocracy, their absolute aim is to have an Islamic Caliphate state under Sharia Law and this can not be allowed to happen.

These extremists have called on jihad against anyone who does not share their perverted ideology and have killed and committed many massacres against civilians from all religions, sects and ethnic groups.

The E.U. and the international community must not allow Syria -with its beautiful mosaic- to fall victim to sectarian violence and the perverted ideology of the Islamists.

As I have said many times, the only way to achieve a lasting peace in Syria is to pursue a peaceful, diplomatic solution which includes all those who have a genuine belief in freedom and democracy.

It is imperative that the international community including the EU puts it’s full weight behind this objective.

I look forward to continuing to work with Mrs. Gutierrez-Cortines, Mr. Ayxela and the European Parliament to achieve this.”