EU rejects Franco-British push to arm Syrian rebels

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

EU rejects Franco-British push to arm Syrian rebels

By Peter Griffiths and Justyna Pawlak
BRUSSELS | Fri Mar 15, 2013 1:29pm EDT

(Reuters) - European Union governments on Friday rejected Franco-British efforts to lift an EU arms embargo to allow weapons supplies to Syrian rebels, saying this could spark an arms race and worsen regional instability.

France and Britain found little support for their proposal at an EU summit in Brussels, diplomats said, but EU foreign ministers will consider the issue again next week.

French President Francois Hollande, backed by British Prime Minister David Cameron, pressed for the embargo to be lifted, saying Europe could not allow the Syrian people to be massacred.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a leading opponent of lifting the arms embargo, said there was a danger that Assad's allies Russia and Iran could step up arms supplies to his government if the 27-nation EU lifted its restrictions.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/15/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE92E09J20130315

[David__77]

1. A little bit of sanity from Germany.

What is interesting is that if France and Britain push it, all sanctions and embargoes against the Syrian government will lapse along with the the general embargo against weapons to all parties. We are seeing an intra-continental power play. Germany is right to align with Russia.

[Purveyor]

2. Good. Thank you for posting.