Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem blamed the European Union for fomenting instability in Syria, during a press conference he held Wednesday (June 22nd) in Damascus, wire agencies reported.

The negative European reaction to President Bashar al-Assad's recent speech is a sign that the EU is seeking to "plant strife and chaos" in Syria, Mouallem said, adding that his country would not give in to external demands.

EU sanctions, the minister said, are tantamount to war and he warned the EU "to stop interfering in Syrian affairs and sowing trouble".

Also on Wednesday, the EU voted to extend the sanctions list on Syria, which will take effect on Friday.