Top EU official says aid access to Syrians must stay open

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A top EU official says that the potential closure of the only remaining border crossing through which humanitarian aid can enter parts of Syria held by anti-government insurgents would have “dramatic” consequences for millions of civilians. Janez Lenarcic, EU commissioner for Crisis Management, on Thursday urged the  U.N. Security Council to vote to keep the Bab al-Hawa crossing between Turkey and Syria operational. Lenarcic spoke with the AP following a visit to Bab al-Hawa ahead of a crucial vote at the Security Council on whether to keep the crossing open before its mandate expires on July 10. Syria’s government and its ally Russia want the aid to start coming through government-controlled parts of the war-torn country.