Brussels, 12/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 11 October, the secretary general of the EU's diplomatic corps (European External Action Service, EEAS), Pierre Vimont, said that the Syrian opposition forces had to unite and that little progress would be made unless opposition both inside and outside the country (people prepared to negotiate) is united before the regime falls. He was addressing MEPs on at the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. Vimont said that the opposition was very divided, all very suspicious of each other and suspicious of people who've abandoned the regime to join the opposition, with the various communities and groups not trusting one another.
Vimont said the armed opposition was very heterogenous, including armed gangs and extremists. Wtihin the Free Syrian Army, armed groups tend to act autonomously and even independently of one another, each in their own patch, with little connection with the general movement in the country and this will be highly significant for the transition.
The EEAS secretary general said the opposition had to win back trust among the communities that back or used to back the regime and ensure that they are not endangered during or after the fall of the old regimg. (CG/transl.fl)