Brussels, 28/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Paris on 28 January, the Syrian National Coalition called again on the international community for financial and military support. “We no longer want promises that won't be kept”, its leader Riad Seif said to representatives from around 50 countries that are Syria's friends. The leader of the Syrian National Council, George Sabra, called for financial support, speaking of a “minimum $500 million” sum being needed to be able to set up a government. “We need weapons, weapons and weapons”, he also said, while the Western countries refuse for fear that weapons may strengthen jihadist groups.
The EU has set up an arms embargo which is due to be re-assessed by the end of March. The total or partial lifting of this embargo must be decided unanimously. In the view of the French minister for foreign affairs, Laurent Fabius, the objective of this conference was “to give the means to the Syrian National Coalition to take action”. “This happens through funds, and aid of all sorts. Promises have been made. Some of them have been honoured, but not all - far from it”, he added, recalling the humanitarian and political emergency in Syria (our translation throughout). (CG/transl.fl)