Strasbourg, 18/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned, on 18 April, against the very high risk that Syria could collapse completely, assuming that this has not already begun. Speaking before the foreign affairs committee at the European Parliament, he stressed that, if the current situation continues, Syria could collapse with disastrous effect for Syria and for the region as a whole.
Fabius takes the view that, if the country were to explode, there would be the risk that the most extreme elements on both sides would override the others - whether elements backed by the Iran regime, or the Sunni side, when today the extremist elements are far from being in a majority position. If the conflict were to go on as it is, it is to be feared that the forces of Al-Qaeda would counterbalance the extremists on the other side, he explained. If such were the case, then there would be the risk that the whole of the region would be threatened and would disintegrate, with consequences for Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Fabius added, specifying that the prospect of this happening is “terrifying”.
Caution over embargo. As he has done for several weeks, the minister was more moderate about lifting the arms embargo, underlining that there are arguments both for and against. The embargo is a very complicated matter, he said, saying the decision will depend on precise answers to certain questions, such as the diversion of weapons and whether there are areas that are truly secure. He went on to add that a choice must be made between the options that are put forward as each has extremely severe disadvantages. He said that this matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the Friends of Syria, to be held in Istanbul on 20 April.
The French minister spoke of his concern regarding the use of chemical weapons, either by the regime or by an opposing group. In any case, he said, the threat is dire.
Syria is one of the items on the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 22 April (see related article). (CG/transl.jl)