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Kerry Says U.S. Will Double Aid to Rebels in Syria Kerry Says U.S. Will Double Aid to Rebels in Syria
(about 1 hour 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 on 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 made the announcement at a meeting with foreign ministers from 10 European and Middle Eastern nations that was convened here to decide how to help the opposition in the bitter civil war in Syria, which has killed more than 70,000 people.
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, the State Department said, will help 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 to be sent, saying that will be determined in consultation with the coalition. But the Obama administration has been considering providing military equipment 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. “This conflict is now spilling across borders and is now threatening neighboring countries,” Mr. Kerry said during a news conference he held jointly with Moaz al-Khatib, the leader of the Syrian opposition coalition, and Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister. “The president directed me to step up our efforts.”
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 was to buttress the role of moderates within the opposition forces and to isolate extremist groups like the Nusra Front, which the United States has asserted is affiliated with Al Qaeda. That entailed forcing a consensus among supporting nations about how military assistance should be channeled to the rebels.
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 all future military assistance would be funneled “exclusively” through the Supreme Military Council, the military wing of the coalition. This procedure is intended to address the concern that some of the opposition’s financial backers in Persian Gulf states have been less particular than Western nations about the rebel factions they support.
Toward that end, the foreign ministers decided that military assistance would be funneled through the Supreme Military Council, the military wing of the coalition. Another goal was to secure a new commitment from the Syrian opposition coalition that it is prepared to enter into a negotiation over a political transition to a post-Assad Syria, if one can ever be organized, and that a post-Assad government would be a democracy in which the rights of minorities would be protected.
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. At the end of the meetings, the Syrian opposition coalition issued a declaration stating that it is “aiming at a political solution,” rejected extremist ideology, and said that a post-Assad Syria would be pluralistic and based on the rule of law.
“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. During a closed-door session, General Salim Idris, the head of the opposition’s command, gave a presentation to the foreign minister that was intended to show that he had a functioning chain of command and that military aid the Syrian opposition received would be used properly.
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 new aid Mr. Kerry announced on Sunday would be in addition to the food rations and medical supplies that the United States pledged to provide to the military wing of the Syrian resistance at a conference in late February in Rome. That assistance has yet to be delivered, but is scheduled to be provided by April 30, a State Department official said.
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. With the pledge of fresh aid, the total amount of nonlethal assistance from the United States to the coalition and civic groups inside the country is $250 million. During the meeting here, Mr. Kerry urged other nations to step up their assistance, with the objective of providing $1 billion in international aid to the opposition.
The assistance promised at the meeting fell well short of what the Syrian opposition has long sought. Despite this, the assistance promised at the meeting fell well short of the military help the Syrian opposition has long sought. In a statement issued before the meeting, the coalition asked for several steps, including airstrikes 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 claims 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. Still, diplomats said that the agreement on how to channel military aid to the opposition and the political assurances by the Syrian opposition provided a foundation for expanding international assistance if Mr. Assad refused to yield power.
There have been divisions in the allies’ ranks even as they have called for the Syrian opposition to unite around democratic principles. “These things are very important for many countries to be able to expand the assistance they give,” said William Hague, the British foreign secretary.
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. The embargo on sending arms to Syria that was imposed by the European Union will come up for renewal at end of May. Mr. Hague noted that he and French officials have argued that there is a strong case for lifting or amending the ban, which could open the door for Britain and France to send weapons to the opposition.
“We are already stepping up our assistance,” a Turkish official said. If Mr. Assad refuses to step aside, he added, “what comes next is further expansion of this assistance.”

Sebnem Arsu contributed reporting.

Sebnem Arsu contributed reporting.