U.S. recognizes Syrian opposition

WASHINGTON U.S. President Barack Obama has stated that Washington has recognized the Syrian Opposition Council (SOC) as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people. “The Syrian opposition coalition is now inclusive enough, reflective and representative enough of the Syrian population that we consider them the legitimate represent of the Syrian people in opposition to Assad,” he told ABC. U.S. recognizes Syrian opposition This recognition will give a new legitimacy to the rebels and mark a new phase in U.S. efforts to isolate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, ABC has assessed. Obama also noted that this was a “big step”. Great Britain and France already recognized the SOC last week. The U.S. president stressed that “with that recognition come responsibilities, to make sure that they organize themselves effectively, that they are representative of all the parties, that they commit themselves to a political transition that respects women's rights and minority rights." According to Obama, the recognition does not mean that the U.S. will start supplying the Syrian opposition with arms but U.S. officials have not ruled out the possibility if it would help reach a political solution. Barack Obama (Beta) Syrian opposition calls for “real support” Syrian opposition Spokesman Walid al-Bunni called for “real support” and not just recognition a day after the U.S. announced it recognized the Syrian opposition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. At a conference meeting in Marrakech, Morocco on Wednesday, al-Bunni called on more than a hundred delegates from Europe and the Gulf countries to provide something concrete to help in their nearly two-year battle against Assad’s regime. “Recognition is nice, but we need real support,” said al-Bunni, of the newly formed Syrian National Coalition. “I will be happy after the conference if we have something for the Syrian people,” he stressed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that the recognition contradicted earlier international agreements that foresee the “commencement of an all-Syria dialogue”, AP has reported. Beta Tanjug

U.S. recognizes Syrian opposition

This recognition will give a new legitimacy to the rebels and mark a new phase in U.S. efforts to isolate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, ABC has assessed.

Obama also noted that this was a “big step”.

Great Britain and France already recognized the SOC last week.

The U.S. president stressed that “with that recognition come responsibilities, to make sure that they organize themselves effectively, that they are representative of all the parties, that they commit themselves to a political transition that respects women's rights and minority rights."

According to Obama, the recognition does not mean that the U.S. will start supplying the Syrian opposition with arms but U.S. officials have not ruled out the possibility if it would help reach a political solution.

Syrian opposition calls for “real support”

Syrian opposition Spokesman Walid al-Bunni called for “real support” and not just recognition a day after the U.S. announced it recognized the Syrian opposition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

At a conference meeting in Marrakech, Morocco on Wednesday, al-Bunni called on more than a hundred delegates from Europe and the Gulf countries to provide something concrete to help in their nearly two-year battle against Assad’s regime.

“Recognition is nice, but we need real support,” said al-Bunni, of the newly formed Syrian National Coalition.

“I will be happy after the conference if we have something for the Syrian people,” he stressed.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Wednesday that the recognition contradicted earlier international agreements that foresee the “commencement of an all-Syria dialogue”, AP has reported.