EU follows Italy’s move to recognize Syrian opposition coalition

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Published time: November 19, 2012 19:02
Edited time: November 20, 2012 02:22

French President Francois Hollande and Foreign Affairs minister Laurent Fabius pose with Syrian opposition coalition members. France was the first European country to recognize the coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. (AFP Photo / Kenzo Tribouillard)

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Italy has recognized Syria’s National Coalition as the "legitimate representative" of the Syrian people. The EU has followed that lead declaring the newly formed political body as the only representative of the “aspirations of the Syrian people.”

"We have recognized the coalition that brings together the various opposition groups as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people," Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti told reporters in Doha on Monday.

The Syrian National Coalition was formed on 11 November when the country’s disparate opposition leaders met in Doha. The body replaced Syrian National Council which had been criticized for being ineffective.

The Foreign ministers of 27 EU nations said the agreement reached in Qatar is a major step towards the necessary unification of the Syrian opposition.

The ministers urged the coalition to continue to respect human rights and democracy and to work with all opposition groups and sections of Syrian society. The statement also said that the EU was “ready” to support coalition relations with the international community.

"I think we will invite the Coalition leaders to our next meeting (in December) to allow them to talk to all the foreign ministers, which will be highly symbolic," said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

Last week France was the first European country to recognize the coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people and a future democratic government. The newly formed coalition has also been recognized by the Gulf Cooperation Council and Turkey.

Earlier this month Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron suggested lifting the 2011 EU arms embargo against all sides in the Syrian conflict. This would allow Western countries to help the opposition in its fight against President Assad.

According to different estimates, the conflict that has been unfolding in Syria since March 2011 has already claimed between 28,000 and 40,000 lives.

Comments (81)

Heidi (unregistered) 24.11.2012 03:29

They have done this everywhere they have gone. They steal the wealth of nations, before they move on to the next. They set up shop in the heart of London, and have branched out into every nation on this Earth. They control the all Western powers, which includes the media, the government, the Big Banks, and the Big Corporations.They were condemned as the children of Satan by the Lord Jesus Christ. How is it that so many people cannot see what is so obviously before their eyes?
These so called freedom fighters in Syria are nothing more than hired thugs by the Banks and the Corporations and have given arms and ammunition to steal more land, and murder more innocent civilians -- they have vested interest in concurring the Middle East... It's just another domino dropping until they get to their prize -- Iran.

Undo

moira.richards 20.11.2012 15:44

if you the fsa need to fight someone go help the people of palestine.

Undo

hippo 20.11.2012 13:12

Who do they think they are?
They must be stuck in some time machine or something.

Undo

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