France Says It Would Recognize Provisional Syrian Government
Source: New York Times
France’s president urged the Syrian opposition movement on Monday to create a provisional government and vowed to extend official recognition once it was formed.
The statement by the French president, François Hollande, represented the furthest any Western leader had gone in pressuring the embattled government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. While the United States, Britain and other Western countries have called on Mr. Assad to resign and have supported the opposition with nonlethal aid, they have not explicitly stated they would recognize a provisional government formed by Mr. Assad’s array of political enemies.
Mr. Hollande’s statement, made during an annual speech to French diplomats in Paris, came as new violence convulsed Syria, including the possible rebel destruction of a Syrian helicopter gunship and further signs of a rush to the borders by thousands of people seeking safe haven from the 18-month-old conflict.
“France asks the Syrian opposition to form a provisional government — inclusive and representative — that can become the legitimate representative of the new Syria,” Mr. Hollande was quoted by news agencies as saying during the speech at the Élysée Palace. “France will recognize the provisional government of Syria once it is formed.”
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/world/middleeast/rebels-claim-to-shoot-down-syrian-helicopter.html
Interesting statement by the new socialist president of France. Getting the opposition in Syria to unite and form a provisional government that is "inclusive and representative" seems very difficult since opposition is so splintered. Hollande's frustration with the continuing violence against civilians in Syria is understandable.
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