MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The European Union has called for the unconditional release of 21 Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights , condemning the act as a ” serious breach of international law. ”
In a statement issued in Brussels through her spokesperson, EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said the bloc was ” alarmed” about the illegal detention of Filipino peacekeepers in the ceasefire zone between Syria and Israel.
“The EU condemns arbitrary detentions and actions such as hostage- taking as hey are serious breaches of international law. The EU considers any attacks on the UN or its personnel unacceptable and demands the immediate and and unconditional release of the peacekeepers, ” Ashton said in a statement sent out by EU’ s Manila delegation Friday morning.
Syrian rebels seized 21 Filipino peacekeepers assigned to the UN Disengagement Observer Force ( UNDOF) on Wednesday as they demanded the pullout of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’ s forces from rebel-controlled Jamla region near the border of Syria and Israel.
Philippine officials said the peacekeepers were ” unharmed” and were being ” treated as guests” while in captivity.
Amid negotiations led by the UN, Ashton called for ” good and swift cooperation of the parties to resolve the situation as soon as possible”.
She further urged parties involved ” to refrain from any actions thay may have negative effects on regional stability and to respect UN Security Council resolutions and the status of UNDOF. ”
There are more than 300 Filipinos deployed as peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.