BRUSSELS, May 23 (UPI) -- European lawmakers said Thursday a political solution to the conflict was the preferred way to end the civil war in Syria.
Members of the European Parliament passed a non-legislative resolution Thursday that calls for a political solution to the conflict.
"However, the political track must be separated from the humanitarian one, which should help those in need," a parliamentary statement read.
The resolution followed a Jordanian meeting of the so-called Friends of Syria. A joint statement from the 10 governments party to the meeting in Amman supported a political solution to the crisis. Members of the Syrian opposition movement were involved in the Jordanian meetings.
The joint statement said the "cornerstone of a political solution" to the crisis was the forming of a transitional government that would assume full authority over executive affairs in Damascus.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said there's no room for Syrian President Bashar Assad in any eventual political settlement. Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed holding an international conference to find a political solution.
Kerry said from Jordan this week Assad was urged "to exhibit the same commitment to trying to find peace in his own country." If Assad is unwilling to negotiate, Kerry said parties to the Jordanian meetings would discuss supporting the opposition so they'd "be able to fight for the freedom of their country."
