BRUSSELS: European Parliament head Antonio Tajani has banned a top Syrian official from a conference on the conflict after the suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town earlier this week.
Tajani sent a message to leftwing MEP Javier Couso warning that Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Soussan would not be allowed to attend the conference planned by the lawmaker on Monday, according to a copy of the document seen by AFP.
鈥淧lease be advised that, following the recent use of chemical weapons and the subsequent developments, I have decided not to authorize this event on parliamentary premises,鈥� Tajani said, according to the message.
鈥淚 have taken this decision as politically it is clearly inopportune to hold this conference,鈥� he said.
鈥淔or security reasons, I have also decided not to authorize Mr.Ayman Soussan access to the European Parliament,鈥� he added.
Syrian President Bashar Assad鈥檚 regime in Damascus was widely blamed for a suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held town on Tuesday, prompting US President Donald Trump to order cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base.
The European Union supports a political transition in Syria whereby Assad steps down to make way for a new government, and the bloc reaffirmed this position on Monday.
Brussels hosted an international donor鈥檚 conference on Syria mid-week attended by opposition figures which raised some $6.0 billion for humanitarian aid efforts this year.
EU Parliament head bans top Syrian official after attack: document
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