EU lifts embargo, members can send arms to Syrian rebels

BRUSSELS EU countries have reached an agreement on the extension of the financial and economic sanctions against Syria for another year. They also lifted the arms embargo when it comes to the Syrian rebels. EU lifts embargo, members can send arms to Syrian rebels At the same time it was said that no member intended to send weapons in the coming months for fear of endangering a peace conference to be held next month. After 12 hours of tough negotiations in Brussels on Monday, British Foreign Minister William Hague last night announced that it was agreed to lift the embargo on weapons for the rebels, but not for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to the AFP. But during the discussions, it was clear that the EU was divided on the issue. Britain and France in particular argued for the abolition of the embargo while Austria, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic had reservations about this decision. Sending weapons is contrary to the principles of Europe that is "a peace community," said Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger, who has long been the most vocal opponent of sending weapons to Syria. A French official quoted by the AFP said that "this is a theoretical lifting of the embargo and in practice a decision on sending weapons will not be made before August 1." This delay will allow the holding of the international peace conference on Syria under the auspices of the United States and Russia, which should be attended by the Assad regime and the opposition. According to the agreement reached yesterday, each EU member state has the right to decide for itself whether to send weapons to the rebels. But ministers have "promised" they will make sure there are no abuses and that EU rules on arms exports will be respected. "No member has the intention of sending weapons at this time. A substantial amount of weapons is already going into the wrong hands. The participants of the conflict have enough arms," said Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans. Hague said that Britain had no intention to immediately start sending weapons to the rebels who are fighting against Assad, although it was the country most in favor of lifting the embargo. He added that Britain stands for political and diplomatic solution to the conflict in Syria, but that with EU's crucial decision, "Assad's regime was sent a strong message from Europe about what it thought about the brutality and criminality of this regime." The Syrian opposition has welcomed the EU's decision as "a moment of truth that has been awaited for months." A scene from Syria (Beta, file) Tanjug

EU lifts embargo, members can send arms to Syrian rebels

At the same time it was said that no member intended to send weapons in the coming months for fear of endangering a peace conference to be held next month.

After 12 hours of tough negotiations in Brussels on Monday, British Foreign Minister William Hague last night announced that it was agreed to lift the embargo on weapons for the rebels, but not for the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to the AFP.

But during the discussions, it was clear that the EU was divided on the issue. Britain and France in particular argued for the abolition of the embargo while Austria, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic had reservations about this decision.

Sending weapons is contrary to the principles of Europe that is "a peace community," said Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger, who has long been the most vocal opponent of sending weapons to Syria.

A French official quoted by the AFP said that "this is a theoretical lifting of the embargo and in practice a decision on sending weapons will not be made before August 1."

This delay will allow the holding of the international peace conference on Syria under the auspices of the United States and Russia, which should be attended by the Assad regime and the opposition.

According to the agreement reached yesterday, each EU member state has the right to decide for itself whether to send weapons to the rebels. But ministers have "promised" they will make sure there are no abuses and that EU rules on arms exports will be respected.

"No member has the intention of sending weapons at this time. A substantial amount of weapons is already going into the wrong hands. The participants of the conflict have enough arms," said Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans.

Hague said that Britain had no intention to immediately start sending weapons to the rebels who are fighting against Assad, although it was the country most in favor of lifting the embargo.

He added that Britain stands for political and diplomatic solution to the conflict in Syria, but that with EU's crucial decision, "Assad's regime was sent a strong message from Europe about what it thought about the brutality and criminality of this regime."

The Syrian opposition has welcomed the EU's decision as "a moment of truth that has been awaited for months."