Brussels, 29/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Syrian opposition and regime - just like Russia and members of the European Parliament - have criticised the lifting of the arms embargo that was decided upon by the European Union on 27 May.
On 28 May, a spokesperson for the Syrian coalition considered that this decision is “certainly a positive step but we fear that it's not enough and that it's coming too late”. “We hope that this will be an effective decision and not just words”, said a spokesperson for the Free Syrian Army, who was disappointed that the arms were not going to be sent immediately. “We also want the EU to adopt a more serious position, a firmer position”, he added. In the view of the Syrian minister for foreign affairs, lifting the embargo constitutes an “obstacle” to the efforts to put an end to the conflict.
The Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Riabkov, regretted the decision that “directly prejudices the possibility of organising an international conference”. Lifting the embargo “goes against the policy of the EU itself (…). It's a demonstration of double standards”, he added, referring to the EU statements for a settlement based on the Geneva declaration and the peace conference. Russia's ambassador to the EU, Vladimir Chizhov, added that this “non-decision will not contribute to an appropriate environment” for Geneva, nor “help” the process. He wondered about the message that the EU is sending the opposition, in other words the idea of “just holding out” for a military solution. “I find it hard to believe that the opposition will become more flexible” with the outlook of obtaining weapons, he said. Chizhov added that there has never been a situation where “arming one side helps stop the violence”, and he later stated that Moscow is not supplying offensive weapons to the Syrian regime and is only honouring previous contracts.
Split in the Parliament. The European Parliament is divided. The chair of the foreign affairs committee, Elmar Brok (EPP, Germany) wondered if “we can really talk of the EU as a mediator”, in the light of lifting this embargo, and he stressed that “this is not a glorious day for the EU”. In the opinion of Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, Belgium), who is in favour of supplying weapons, “given the macabre state of affairs (…), it is shameful that the EU does not show any courage by taking decisive measures”. “A more united EU position on the arms embargo would have been desirable. In the end, the EU palmed its responsibilities off onto the member states”, he added. Véronique de Keyser (S&D, Belgium) said that “this shameful decision is another sad reminder that the EU still can't manage to speak to the world with a single voice”. “Instead of contributing to finding a solution, the decision risks adding more anarchy and despair to a tragic war that is still deadlocked and awaiting a political response”, she added. “Supplying weapons and funding armed groups is the way to a new tragedy, of prolonging the conflict and making a political solution impossible. The EU must reintegrate the embargo”, said the GUE Group. In the opinion of one of the GUE MEPs, Willy Meyer from Spain, a political solution and the destiny of Syria “must lie firmly in the hands of the Syrian people, without any outside interference or military intervention”.
American support. The USA has welcomed the EU's action. “We support the relaxation of the EU's embargo on weapons, as part of the international community's efforts to demonstrate its total support to the Syrian opposition”, said a spokesperson, adding that lifting this embargo is “useful”, because “it sends a message to the Assad regime that support to the opposition will only grow”. (CG/transl.fl)