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| Kerry Says U.S. Will Double Aid to Rebels in Syria | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ISTANBUL — Secretary of State John Kerry announced Sunday morning that the United States would double its aid to the Syrian opposition, providing $123 million in fresh assistance. | ISTANBUL — Secretary of State John Kerry announced Sunday morning that the United States would double its aid to the Syrian opposition, providing $123 million in fresh assistance. |
| Mr. Kerry’s announcement came at a meeting with foreign ministers from 10 other Western and Middle Eastern nations that was convened to decide how to help the opposition in the bitter Syrian civil war, which has killed more than 70,000. | Mr. Kerry’s announcement came at a meeting with foreign ministers from 10 other Western and Middle Eastern nations that was convened to decide how to help the opposition in the bitter Syrian civil war, which has killed more than 70,000. |
| A portion of the new American aid, American officials said, will be used to provide additional “nonlethal” supplies to the military wing of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, an umbrella organization formed in November to unite the various rebel groups that have been trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad for two years. | A portion of the new American aid, American officials said, will be used to provide additional “nonlethal” supplies to the military wing of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, an umbrella organization formed in November to unite the various rebel groups that have been trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad for two years. |
| American officials did not specify the items that will be sent, saying that will be determined in consultation with the coalition. But the Obama administration has considered providing items like body armor and night-vision goggles. | American officials did not specify the items that will be sent, saying that will be determined in consultation with the coalition. But the Obama administration has considered providing items like body armor and night-vision goggles. |
| The new aid would be in addition to the food and the medical supplies that the United States had already pledged at a conference in late February in Rome. | The new aid would be in addition to the food and the medical supplies that the United States had already pledged at a conference in late February in Rome. |
| With the pledge of new aid, the total amount of nonlethal assistance from the United States to the coalition and civic groups inside the country is $250 million. | With the pledge of new aid, the total amount of nonlethal assistance from the United States to the coalition and civic groups inside the country is $250 million. |
| A major goal of the meeting here by the 11-nation group, known as the Friends of Syria, was to buttress the role of moderates within the opposition forces and to forge a consensus among the nations that support the rebels about what specific assistance should be provided, and to whom. | A major goal of the meeting here by the 11-nation group, known as the Friends of Syria, was to buttress the role of moderates within the opposition forces and to forge a consensus among the nations that support the rebels about what specific assistance should be provided, and to whom. |
| Toward that end, the foreign ministers decided that military assistance would be funneled through the Supreme Military Council, the military wing of the coalition. | Toward that end, the foreign ministers decided that military assistance would be funneled through the Supreme Military Council, the military wing of the coalition. |
| That step is intended to reduce the risk that the weapons supplied by Persian Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which are part of the Friends of Syria group, and the nonlethal support provided by nations like the United States and Britain might fall into the hands of extremists. | That step is intended to reduce the risk that the weapons supplied by Persian Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which are part of the Friends of Syria group, and the nonlethal support provided by nations like the United States and Britain might fall into the hands of extremists. |
| “All the 11 countries involved will intensify their coordination to ensure all aid would go through the Syrian national coalition,” said William Hague, the British foreign secretary. | “All the 11 countries involved will intensify their coordination to ensure all aid would go through the Syrian national coalition,” said William Hague, the British foreign secretary. |
| The meeting also included assurances from the Syrian opposition. On this count, the coalition issued a statement stating that its goal was a “democratic, pluralistic Syria based on the rule of law.” | The meeting also included assurances from the Syrian opposition. On this count, the coalition issued a statement stating that its goal was a “democratic, pluralistic Syria based on the rule of law.” |
| That point was underscored by Sheik Moaz al-Khatib, the leader of the coalition, at a joint news conference with Mr. Kerry and Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister. | That point was underscored by Sheik Moaz al-Khatib, the leader of the coalition, at a joint news conference with Mr. Kerry and Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister. |
| The assistance promised at the meeting fell well short of what the Syrian opposition has long sought. | The assistance promised at the meeting fell well short of what the Syrian opposition has long sought. |
| In a statement issued before the meeting, the coalition asked for several steps, including intervention to stop the Syrian government from firing Scud missiles, the establishment of a no-fly zone along Syria’s northern and southern borders, and a United Nations resolution condemning the Syrian government for what the opposition says is its use of chemical weapons. | In a statement issued before the meeting, the coalition asked for several steps, including intervention to stop the Syrian government from firing Scud missiles, the establishment of a no-fly zone along Syria’s northern and southern borders, and a United Nations resolution condemning the Syrian government for what the opposition says is its use of chemical weapons. |
| There have been divisions in the allies’ ranks even as they have called for the Syrian opposition to unite around democratic principles. | There have been divisions in the allies’ ranks even as they have called for the Syrian opposition to unite around democratic principles. |
| According to a diplomat at the conference who asked not be identified, one topic that was debated behind closed doors was whether to recommend in a final statement that the establishment of humanitarian corridors or a no-fly zone be considered. But the idea ran into opposition and was not included in the final statement. | According to a diplomat at the conference who asked not be identified, one topic that was debated behind closed doors was whether to recommend in a final statement that the establishment of humanitarian corridors or a no-fly zone be considered. But the idea ran into opposition and was not included in the final statement. |
Sebnem Arsu contributed reporting. | Sebnem Arsu contributed reporting. |