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| UK: Syrian opposition 'sole legitimate representative' of the people | UK: Syrian opposition 'sole legitimate representative' of the people |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Britain has formally recognised the newly united Syrian opposition as the "sole legitimate representative" of the Syrian people and promised new aid for the uprising against Bashar al-Assad. | Britain has formally recognised the newly united Syrian opposition as the "sole legitimate representative" of the Syrian people and promised new aid for the uprising against Bashar al-Assad. |
| William Hague made the announcement in a statement to MPs on Tuesday. It marks a significant shift in British policy and follows a similar move by France last week. It goes beyond a more cautious endorsement by the EU on Monday. | William Hague made the announcement in a statement to MPs on Tuesday. It marks a significant shift in British policy and follows a similar move by France last week. It goes beyond a more cautious endorsement by the EU on Monday. |
| The foreign secretary said he had sought and received "important and encouraging" assurances from the new National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces on agreeing a detailed political transition plan for Syria, as well as showing a "clear commitment to human rights and international humanitarian law, including the protection of religious communities and unfettered and safe access for humanitarian agencies". | The foreign secretary said he had sought and received "important and encouraging" assurances from the new National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces on agreeing a detailed political transition plan for Syria, as well as showing a "clear commitment to human rights and international humanitarian law, including the protection of religious communities and unfettered and safe access for humanitarian agencies". |
| The National Coalition "have much to do to win the full support of the Syrian people and co-ordinate opposition efforts more effectively," Hague said. "But it is strongly in the interests of Syria, of the wider region, and of the United Kingdom that we support them and deny space to extremist groups." | The National Coalition "have much to do to win the full support of the Syrian people and co-ordinate opposition efforts more effectively," Hague said. "But it is strongly in the interests of Syria, of the wider region, and of the United Kingdom that we support them and deny space to extremist groups." |
| Britain, the US and France have become concerned about the rise of Salafi or Jihadi groups backed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states, as well as mounting sectarianism as the conflict has deepened. | Britain, the US and France have become concerned about the rise of Salafi or Jihadi groups backed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states, as well as mounting sectarianism as the conflict has deepened. |
| The EU said after talks in Brussels on Monday that it considers the NC "legitimate representatives of the aspirations of the Syrian people". The addition of the word "sole" by the UK is noteworthy as it implies irreversible derecognition of the Assad regime. Britain is demanding that the Syrian president step down. | The EU said after talks in Brussels on Monday that it considers the NC "legitimate representatives of the aspirations of the Syrian people". The addition of the word "sole" by the UK is noteworthy as it implies irreversible derecognition of the Assad regime. Britain is demanding that the Syrian president step down. |
| The National Coalition, created under western and Arab pressure to overcome internal divisions, was formed in Qatar after talks this month. It hopes to secure wider international recognition and weapons, or at least support for a no-fly zone or humanitarian corridors to protect Syrian civilians. The coalition's leader, Moaz al-Khatib, a respected Damascus figure, met Hague in London last Friday. | The National Coalition, created under western and Arab pressure to overcome internal divisions, was formed in Qatar after talks this month. It hopes to secure wider international recognition and weapons, or at least support for a no-fly zone or humanitarian corridors to protect Syrian civilians. The coalition's leader, Moaz al-Khatib, a respected Damascus figure, met Hague in London last Friday. |
| The National Coalition will be invited to appoint a political representative – in effect an ambassador – to the UK. Britain will provide a £1m package of communications support, which could include mobile internet hubs and satellite phones to improve the coalition's ability to communicate inside Syria, Hague said. It will "urgently deploy" a stabilisation response team to help the NC meet people's basic needs in opposition-held areas, he said. The team will recommend areas for further UK assistance. The new package of UK support is worth about £2m in immediate commitments and could be expanded considerably in coming months. | The National Coalition will be invited to appoint a political representative – in effect an ambassador – to the UK. Britain will provide a £1m package of communications support, which could include mobile internet hubs and satellite phones to improve the coalition's ability to communicate inside Syria, Hague said. It will "urgently deploy" a stabilisation response team to help the NC meet people's basic needs in opposition-held areas, he said. The team will recommend areas for further UK assistance. The new package of UK support is worth about £2m in immediate commitments and could be expanded considerably in coming months. |
| The foreign secretary said nothing about arming the rebels but added that, in the absence of a political and diplomatic solution, "we will not rule out any option in accordance with international law that might save innocent lives in Syria and prevent the destabilisation of a region that remains critical to the security of the UK and the peace of the whole world". | The foreign secretary said nothing about arming the rebels but added that, in the absence of a political and diplomatic solution, "we will not rule out any option in accordance with international law that might save innocent lives in Syria and prevent the destabilisation of a region that remains critical to the security of the UK and the peace of the whole world". |
| Talk of lifting the EU arms embargo, floated in London in recent weeks, appears to have faded for now in the face of legal and practical difficulties. French talk of weapons for "defensive purposes" would still breach the arms export ban. | Talk of lifting the EU arms embargo, floated in London in recent weeks, appears to have faded for now in the face of legal and practical difficulties. French talk of weapons for "defensive purposes" would still breach the arms export ban. |
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